Elevate your salad game with this vibrant Moroccan Spiced Lemon Dressing and Quinoa Apricot Spinach Salad, a perfect balance of bold flavors and wholesome ingredients. Tender quinoa forms the hearty base, while sweet dried apricots, crunchy toasted almonds, and fresh baby spinach add layers of texture and flavor. The star of the dish is the tangy Moroccan-inspired lemon dressing, infused with warm spices like cumin, coriander, and cinnamon that bring a zesty, aromatic twist to every bite. Ready in just 30 minutes, this nutritious salad is ideal as a light lunch, a side dish for your next dinner party, or a refreshing addition to a summer picnic. Packed with superfoods and bursting with citrusy spiced goodness, this recipe makes healthy eating truly irresistible!
Rinse the quinoa under cold water in a fine-mesh sieve to remove bitterness. In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add the quinoa, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 12-15 minutes, or until the quinoa is tender and the water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.
While the quinoa is cooling, prepare the Moroccan spiced lemon dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, fresh lemon juice, honey, ground cumin, ground coriander, ground cinnamon, salt, and black pepper until well combined. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the cooled quinoa, baby spinach, chopped dried apricots, toasted sliced almonds, and chopped parsley. Toss gently to mix.
Drizzle the Moroccan spiced lemon dressing over the salad and gently toss to coat all ingredients evenly.
Serve immediately as a light meal or a side dish. Enjoy!
Calories |
1399 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 68.9 g | 88% | |
| Saturated Fat | 7.7 g | 38% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 2487 mg | 108% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 167.8 g | 61% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 14.1 g | 50% | |
| Total Sugars | 56.7 g | ||
| Protein | 35.6 g | 71% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 320 mg | 25% | |
| Iron | 13.5 mg | 75% | |
| Potassium | 1252 mg | 27% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.