Layered Autumn Quinoa Salad.
Saturday was weird.
I woke up four hours later than usual.
Ate three apples between the hours of 11AM and 4PM.
Made this quinoa because I wanted a fourth apple… but not plain.
Literally stayed in my pajamas until 8PM. (Uh, why did I get out of them?)
Drank a bottle of wine while watching the history channel… all by myself.
Spent a good 45 minutes after that searching for another JFK special to air.
Then watched my husband ingest an entire 1/2 gallon of fruit punch that he bought, spiked with rum.
He had to wear two Breathe Right strips to bed that night because have you ever slept next to a chronic snorer after they’ve had a few drinks? I could take my sleeping bag out to the nearest tarmac and receive a better night’s rest. That is no lie.
And while I really found the highlight of that day to be my combined wine consumption and TV education (history was my major when I entered college…), lunch/dinner came in at a close second. Maybe it was because I am so obsessed with apples at the moment or maybe it was because I was generally starving or… maaaaaybe because it was the only substantial food that I ingested throughout the day (unless cookies count)… but it was good.
During one of our lunches last week in Sonoma, we were served this incredible quinoa salad with some sort of citrus vinaigrette. It was so delicious that I instantly inhaled it and have been craving more ever since. Saturday seemed the perfect day to attempt a throw-together quinoa bowl given that it was only one week prior that I was sitting on top of a terrace looking at thousands of acres of vineyards… which you know, is basically comparable to sitting inside my house while the rain pours down outside, unshowered, undressed, and freezing because I refuse to turn on the heat yet.
At least I got the wine part right.
Couple all of that with the honeycrisp apples I found tumbling down the produce shelves in recent days, and I am in heaven. This time of year, I actually wake up in the morning craving juicy apples. It might just mean I’m dehydrated from all of that wine, but whatever… they are freaking delicious. And so was this. [/donotprint]
Layered Autumn Quinoa Salad
serves 4
2 cups spring greens
2 cups cooked quinoa
2 medium apples, chopped
1 pear, chopped
1 large tomato, chopped
1/2 red pepper, chopped
1 pomegranate, seeded
1/4 red onion, chopped
1 small bunch of cilantro, chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Cook quinoa according to directions, then toss with tomatoes, red pepper, apple, pear, pom seeds, onion, cilantro, salt and pepper. In a bowl, layer about 1/2 cup of spring greens then top with another 1/2 cup of quinoa. Finish by drizzling vinaigrette over top.
Citrus Vinaigrette
1/2 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
pinch of salt
pinch of pepper
In a bowl, whisk vinegar, lemon juice and zest, mustard, salt and pepper together. Stream in olive oil while constantly mixing until dressing has emulsified and thickened. Drizzle on quinoa.
I love Fall.
115 Comments on “Layered Autumn Quinoa Salad.”
When my boyfriend has been drinking (and I haven’t), I make him sleep in the other room because otherwise he breathes so loudly that it drives me mad so I can sympathise.
This salad looks great though, the colours and flavours work perfectly and it looks so pretty!
I usually make mine sleep on the couch. Actually, he welcomes that because it means I’m not elbowing him all night to stop snoring.
The citrus vinaigrette sounds awesome. And the salad looks perfect.
And this
“wear two Breathe Right strips to bed that night because have you ever slept next to a chronic snorer after they’ve had a few drinks? ” <– YES!! My own. HORRIBLE
I can hear Scott OUTSIDE OF OUR HOUSE (sorry to scream) b/c his snoring is so loud sometimes. Seriously girl. I can relate, big time.
Right there with you, Averie!! I have to wear earplugs!
I cannot believe you made a healthy quinoa salad with veggies! That is so unlike you Jessica! But I think I’d make an exception to my “No Veggies” rule too for this salad. Yay for Fall! :-D
OMG this looks sooooo divine! I just bought a bunch of honey crisp apples and I think I have all of the rest of the ingredients. I need to make this.. yum!!
The Husband used to be a snorer but he’s not really anymore. Maybe his subconscious realized that he is going to get beat down by his wife if he continues the snoring.
PS – That looks really good.
PPS – I love JFK specials. Did you watch the series about the Kennedy’s? So stinking good!!!
Gahhh I didn’t… I don’t think we got the channel it was on? I need to see it.
I don’t see anything wrong With Your Sunday..
And thanks for making this salad. You put all of my favorite things in one dish.
Snoring is the worst. This salad is the best.
That is too funny – our Saturday was very similar and my husband and I kept saying to each other – this day was really weird. However, your salad isn’t weird – it sounds wonderful. The vinaigrette by itself sounds great – yum!
I love your blog, I love that you have junk food and healthy food and I don’t feel threatened or maybe I mean guilty. I’m just learning about quioneoeoeoeoe lol what an interesting strange food and likable food. I need to know more about it. This will help.
Thanks Barbara!
I see you have 3 dishes of salad. I’m on my way over, thanks! The vinaigrette looks lovely on it’s own!!
love this citrus vinaigrette. I always just make balsamic. I could use a switch up!
I am making this – Today. And thank you for the comment about your hubby and the drinking/snoring. Got one of those myself!
I feel for ya.
I am having a torrid love affair with the honeycrisp apple right now as well so this is perfect to bolster my addiction! :)
i adore fall too…and since we’re going on a healthy eating binge this week i’m all about making healthier fall dishes!
That looks delicious, Jessica! I’ve really become a fan of quinoa lately, so this is right up my alley!
I love fall, too! :)
1. I LOVE honeycrisp apples…they’re so fantasticly (is that even a word?) amazing.
2. Jackie O. I am convinced the world would be a cooler place if everyone would dress up like she did at times. So glamorous.
Fact.
This looks gorgeous – I can just picture a bunch of those pretty layered glasses laid out on a tray for a party.
Also, I JUST posted a quinoa salad recipe on my blog and I’ve been racking my brain trying to come up with a delicious, savory-ish apple recipe. Psychic Recipe Network!
Sounds like a wonderful Saturday to me. :)
All your vices are good ones at least… a few apples, some educational television, a little wine. Sounds like my entire weekend to be honest, barely changed out of PJs the entire 2 days.
This looks so pretty! I adore apples as well – I’ll eat tons, even plain ones! And ps – I loved the post about your typical day this weekend. You might not think it’s that glamorous, but I’d love to have your life for a day! (I’d even wash the dishes for you!!) ;)
I’d give anything for that. :)
Saturday I got out of pjs, went for a run, then got home and got back INTO my pjs for the rest of the day. It was glooooooorious! I feel REAL bad for you w/ your husbands snoring. That’d drive me INSANE!
freakin’ hilarious…and will def be trying the salad. I.love.quinoa.
I love it when you post salads. :-) Quinoa+fruit=perfect.
So jealous you can still get Honey Crisp apples. The local orchards are out because they are already out of season in the South. :-( But this looks amazing…I will definitely need to try it with another type of apple.
Oh man, really?! We are just getting them in but they sell out fast here too.
That kind of sounds like an awesome day to me:-) And yes, cookies do count as substantial food. However, this quinoa salad looks delicious and I love how you served it!
Love it! I am sure its delicious, I am making this asap!
I love quinoa but I’m terrified to make it by myself – it seems complicated! My coworker was telling me she rinses it 5 or 6 times to get the bitterness out. Is it really that complicated?
My boyfriend is the same way, he snores so loud after he has been drinking! And this salad looks delicious, I bet that dressing would make even a plane old salad absolutely delicious!
“have you ever slept next to a chronic snorer after they’ve had a few drinks?”- uh…yes! My husband! What’s up with that? I don’t mind it has much if I’ve had some wine, though! Seriously, this salad looks so amazing, Jessica. Your food styling is gorgeous and your photos of the recipe are stunning! :-)
Veggies? Quinoa? WHAT BLOG IS THIS?!? :-)
I know! I thought for sure it must be a mistake. :) How exactly does one “seed” a pomegranate? I thought that’s the part you want to eat? I am confused.
Yep – that is the part that you want to eat, but you have to get the seeds out in order to eat them! I usually cut mine in half and just pull the seeds out. It can be messy, but I love the extra juice that comes out. I have also seen people cut it in half then add it to a bowl of water and push the seeds out, which float to the top.
I’m currently in sweats + hoodie b/c I refuse to turn on the heat too. The thought of having to order oil pains me!
I think if I make this dressing I might end up drinking it from the bowl. I <3 citrus dressings.
The 1/2 gallon of punch + rum == totally something I can see Jason doing.
haha, i think that sounds like the perfect saturday! :)
That salad is gorgeous! And I would’ve never gotten out of my pjs for the entire weekend if I had it my way. Thanks so much for adding a link to my bake sale!! <3
Yay! No pumpkin recipes yet, just apples! Score :)
I love honey crisps too. ok, now I’m drooling. Awesome.
Speaking of apples, I just discovered SweeTango apples. SO GOOD. And such a funny name. You can’t go wrong.
So I discovered quinoa this summer and have been in love with finding different things to do with it ever since. This recipe will be great since I have a ton of apples from going to the orchard the other day. Although a sad note, when Irene came through my fave orchard lost their honeycrisps :( So I have Courtlands, still delicious though!
I also have been freezing waiting to turn on the heat, just filled the oil tank, but I’m going as long as I can before starting it up. My husband did use the space heater for the first time yesterday, I bet we can hold off longer using that :) and wine always helps, especially if you heat it and mull it. Yum, now I think I know what I’m going to have later! maybe with a side of this quinoa salad!!
I love how healthy this salad is! That dressing sounds delicious :)
A few things…1) you know quinoa is gluten free, right? wink wink 2) i love your glass pouring thingy 3) in the past week I have been ALL about apples…just as I think I’m never going to be able to move past peaches, something new grabs my attention! 4) tomorrow. ohyes.
I drink bottles of wine by myself too and watch…well, not the history channel, but shows like “Heavy” or “Take Home Chef” or “My So Called Life.”
This might be bad. And sad.
My husband snores terribly. I usually kick him and he wakes up a bit and stops long enough for me to fall back asleep. Also, the snoring is better when he sleeps on his side, worst when he’s on his back. I’m pretty much an expert at this point.
I am all about apples right now too. I’ve been drinking cider like a crazy lady.
Haha- sounds like a good day to me! I can usually eat 2 to 3 apples a day on the regular…but it seems to upset the peanuts tummy! So one is really my limit now haha. What a pretty dish
I have to say that I am so blessed that mine doesn’t snore! Instead I have a man who wakes me up with his antics of sleepwalking which ironically, I just posted yesterday. I think I’ll stick with the sleepwalking though.
I’m jealous you have a pomegranate. I REALLY wanted to use one yesterday in a recipe, but I’ll guess it will have to wait until I can locate one. I know there’s going to be a pumpkin shortage because of the floods, but no pomegranates? Sheesh!
This looks delicious – but I have a random question….
Does Quinoa stay good past one day? I love doubling recipes so that I can bring them in for lunch the next day. But not sure how Quinoa lasts from day to day?
Oh yes!! I usually make a lot as well and use it throughout the week. My favorite thing about it is that is also stays good either hot or cold. I love it both ways.
It’s perfect! I loved that quinoa salad we had in Sonoma too. I could have killed my husband last night. He hadn’t been drinking, but he had been camping all weekend… which meant he was over-tired… which meant I had to listen to him snore loudly all night long. I told him this AM that if this snoring-loudly-thing is a new thing, that’s going to be a problem! He just gave me the evil eye in return.
LOVE this. This is absolutely something I would never think to make on my own – definitely what I consider the best recipes :)
Sounds like a pretty good day to me! That salad is beautiful, I love all of the flavors. Will try this one for sure.
Please don’t think I’m crazy, but I have odd days like that all the time, or at least once every few months. Perfectly normal. These look great and what a classy serving idea in the glass cups/bowls.
I love citrusy dressings. Such a pretty salad and an even better sounding saturday.
It’s 90 degrees here in LA so this looks absolutely perfect. Especially that citrusy dressing. #whereisfall