Blueberry Quinoa Power Salad with Lemon-Basil Vinaigrette
Author - Alyssa Rimmer
This healthy quinoa power salad is packed with detoxifying ingredients and is perfect for summer. High in protein, fiber, and vitamins, it's also vegan + GF!
Organic blueberries were finally on sale this week, so I snatched up a bunch of containers and have been eating them non-stop. Straight from the container of course, but I've also been incorporating them into a lot of my meals.
I shared aย blueberry smoothie bowl I made the other morning on Instagram (which was actually a version of my blueberry bombshell smoothie) and they're even making their wayย into my salads. This quinoa power salad being my best savory blueberry creation yet.
This salad is so full of healthy, detoxifying, anti-inflammatory foods is kind of outrageous (and by outrageous I mean outrageously awesome).
For starers, we have the blueberries…which, nutritionally speaking, are absolute rockstars. They're packed with antioxidants, are low in sugar, have tons of vitamins and minerals, are high in fiber, and they're great for your brain, your heart, and your skin.
Then we have arugula which again is high in antioxidants and fiber. There's also the quinoa which is high in plant-based protein and trace minerals like manganese and copper. Plus there's also raw pecans and avocado both of which provide a great boost of healthy fats which help to keep you satiated and full.
Finally there's the dressing: a lemon-basil vinaigrette which is equally full of tummy-friendly ingredients.
The dressing starts with a base of high quality, organic olive oil. This is the foundation of the vinaigrette and adds some more healthy fats to the salad.
Then we start with our detox ingredients. We've got:
Lemon
Apple Cider Vinegar
Garlic
Sea Salt
…along with fresh basil, stone ground mustard and a touch of maple syrup.
It all just gets blended up in your blender and you're done. Pairs so nicely with the rest of the salad!
The tanginess from the dressing complements the sweetness of the blueberries perfectly. And the nutty pecans and buttery avocado are balanced with the spicy arugula and light microgreens.
If you were able to bottle up the taste of summer and put it into a salad bowl, this quinoa power salad would be it. Each bite is absolutely delightfulย and really brightens up your entire meal.
What about you?
What summer produce are you most excited about? Share your favorites in the comments below and I'll try to sneak them into some of my upcoming recipes! For me it's: cherries, strawberries, peaches, and alllllll the veggies!
xo Alyssa
More Healthy Salad Recipes To Try:
- Easy Detox Quinoa Salad
- Tropical Kale & Quinoa Power Salad
- Vegetarian Taco Mason Jar Salad
- Asian Quinoa Power Salad
- Quinoa Pad Thai Salad
Blueberry Quinoa Power Salad with Lemon-Basil Vinaigrette
This salad is so full of healthy, detoxifying, anti-inflammatory foods is kind of outrageous (and by outrageous I mean outrageously awesome).
Ingredients
- for the salad:
- 7 - 8 cups arugula
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 1 cup cooked quinoa any variety
- 1/2 cup pecan halves
- 1 avocado
- Microgreens optional
- for the dressing:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 small garlic clove
- 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup
- pinch of sea salt
- 1 cup fresh basil
- Water if needed
Instructions
-
Separate all the salad ingredients evenly between four bowls.
-
Blend the dressing ingredients in a blender until smooth and creamy. Add a dash of water if needed to thin it out.
-
Pour dressing over salads and enjoy!
WW SmartPoints: 12
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Hi Alyssa,
This is a fantastic salad! I love this one.
I would also love to feature it in our website Greenthickies.com.
I will not be posting the actual recipe, but only one image, title, a small quote and link directly back to your post.
Is that all right?
๐
Katherine,
Greenthickies.
Hi Alyssa,
Your Blueberry Quinoa Power Salad was delicious. Your dad sent me your blog-site. It is so fun to connect with another Rimmer. Your U tube videos are great too.
best,
Amanda
So glad you enjoyed it Amanda and thanks for leaving a comment! It’s great to hear from you! Let me know if you end up trying any other recipes from the site ๐
Hi Alyssa!
You have amazing recipes! I am excited to try all of them!! After 30 years of suffering I just got my allergy testing back, and your website is going to be a godsend!
Any recommendations on another spice instead of garlic? I am sad to have a garlic allergy!!
So happy you’re finding the recipes helpful! I actually don’t know a ton about cooking without garlic (it’s the Italian blood in me!), but I just found this article that you might find helpful: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/10/23/garlic-allergy_n_6027812.html — sounds like there are quite a few ways to replace it ๐
This looks great. I will definitely try it!
Can’t wait to hear what you think – it’s one of my favorites!
Any problem for using frozen blueberries?
Can’t wait to try this.
I think the texture would be a little strange, but if it sounds good to you I saw go for it! I’m sure the taste would be pretty much identical ๐
I love putting blueberries (locally picked!!) in salads! This is a great combination. And the vinaigrette is so fresh and delicious with the basil. This is a keeper!
Glad you enjoyed it! I’m loving the sweet addition to salads, so definitely doing this more often!
I’m also so happy to see nutrition facts posted! Love your recipes. Thank you. The diabetic in our family needs the serving size and carb info.
Glad you’re finding it helpful! xo
I am happy that you are now posting Nutrition Facts. That is very helpful information. Thank you.
๐ Glad it’s helpful!!
This sounds and looks delicious. Can’t wait to try it.
Yay! Can’t wait to hear what you think ๐