Citrus Avocado Quinoa Salad (Printable Version)

Fluffy quinoa tossed with fresh citrus segments, creamy avocado, and herbs in a zesty dressing.

# Ingredient List:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Citrus

04 - 1 large orange, peeled and segmented
05 - 1 large grapefruit, peeled and segmented
06 - 1 lime (zest and juice)

→ Vegetables & Herbs

07 - 1 large ripe avocado, diced
08 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
09 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
10 - 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped (optional)

→ Dressing

11 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
12 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
13 - 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Optional Additions

15 - 1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds or sliced almonds
16 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (omit for vegan/dairy-free)

# How to Make It:

01 - Rinse the quinoa under cold water. In a medium saucepan, combine quinoa, water, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, and let cool to room temperature.
02 - While the quinoa cools, prepare the citrus: segment the orange and grapefruit over a bowl to catch any juices. Set segments aside; reserve 2 tablespoons of the juices for the dressing.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, honey (or maple syrup), vinegar, lime zest and juice, reserved citrus juices, salt, and pepper.
04 - In a large bowl, combine cooled quinoa, citrus segments, diced avocado, red onion, cilantro, and mint (if using). Drizzle with dressing and gently toss to combine.
05 - Top with pumpkin seeds or sliced almonds and crumbled feta (if desired). Serve immediately, or chill for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of warm quinoa and cool citrus creates this incredible temperature contrast that wakes up your whole palate
  • You can prep everything ahead and toss it together right before serving which makes it perfect for actual real life
02 -
  • Adding avocado to the whole salad and then storing leftovers will result in brown sad avocado the next day so mix it in portion by portion
  • The quinoa needs to cool completely before you toss it with everything else or the avocado will turn into weird warm guacamole
03 -
  • When segmenting citrus cut along both sides of the membrane to release perfect segments without any bitter pith attached
  • Taste the dressing before adding it to the salad because citrus varies in acidity and you might need more honey to balance it out

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