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Fresh Quinoa Salad with Roasted Beets and Arugula

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A light and nourishing summer salad featuring roasted beets, fluffy quinoa, peppery arugula, and a bright lemon-olive oil dressing. Perfect for warm-weather lunches or as a colorful side dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (170g) rinsed quinoa
  • 3 medium fresh beets, scrubbed and trimmed
  • 4 cups (120g) fresh arugula, washed and dried
  • 1/4 cup finely sliced red onion
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Wrap each beet loosely in foil and place on a baking sheet. Roast for 45-60 minutes until tender when pierced with a fork. Let cool, peel skins off, and dice into bite-sized cubes.
  2. While beets roast, rinse quinoa under cold water. Combine quinoa with 2 cups (475ml) water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let sit covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste.
  4. Toast walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring often until golden and fragrant.
  5. In a large bowl, toss warm quinoa with the dressing. Add diced roasted beets, arugula, sliced red onion, toasted walnuts, and feta cheese if using. Toss gently to combine without bruising the greens.
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or lemon juice if needed. Let salad rest for 10 minutes at room temperature before serving.

Notes

Do not overdress the salad early to prevent arugula from wilting. Keep some dressing back and add just before serving for freshness. Roasting beets whole with skin on traps moisture and enhances sweetness. Rinse quinoa thoroughly to remove bitterness. Toast nuts carefully to avoid burning.

Nutrition

Keywords: quinoa salad, roasted beets, arugula, healthy summer salad, gluten-free salad, vegetarian salad, easy salad recipe

Find it online: https://zestynora.com/fresh-quinoa-salad-with-roasted-beets-and-arugula-easy-healthy-recipe-for-summer/