Cherry Quinoa Salad With Lamb (Print version)
Vibrant salad with spiced lamb, sweet cherries, fluffy quinoa, feta, and fresh herbs in zesty dressing.
# What you'll need:
→ Lamb
01 - 14 oz lamb loin or leg, trimmed and sliced into strips
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp ground cumin
04 - 1 tsp ground coriander
05 - ½ tsp salt
06 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Quinoa
07 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
08 - 2 cups water
09 - ½ tsp salt
→ Salad Components
10 - 1¼ cups fresh cherries, pitted and halved
11 - 3½ oz baby spinach or arugula
12 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
13 - ⅓ cup feta cheese, crumbled
14 - ¼ cup toasted pistachios or almonds, roughly chopped
15 - 2 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
16 - 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
→ Dressing
17 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
18 - 1½ tbsp lemon juice
19 - 1 tsp honey
20 - ½ tsp Dijon mustard
21 - Salt and pepper, to taste
# How to make it:
01 - Combine rinsed quinoa, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is fully absorbed. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, and allow to cool completely.
02 - Toss lamb strips with olive oil, ground cumin, coriander, salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl. Let marinate at room temperature while the quinoa cooks.
03 - Whisk together extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified and smooth.
04 - Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Sear seasoned lamb strips for 2 to 3 minutes per side until desired doneness is reached. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing into bite-sized pieces.
05 - Place cooled quinoa, cherries, spinach or arugula, red onion, crumbled feta, toasted nuts, mint, and parsley in a large serving bowl.
06 - Add sliced lamb to the salad bowl. Pour the prepared dressing over the entire salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
07 - Serve immediately while lamb is still slightly warm. Garnish with additional fresh herbs and toasted nuts if desired.
# Expert suggestions:
01 -
- The way warm spiced lamb plays off juicy sweet cherries is the kind of flavor revelation that makes you pause mid-bite
- Everything can be prepped ahead, making it that rare elegant dish thats actually stress-free for guests
02 -
- Overcooked quinoa turns mushy and ruins the texture, so keep a close eye on that 15-minute timer and fluff it immediately
- Letting the lamb rest before slicing keeps all the juices inside instead of running out onto your cutting board
03 -
- Pat the lamb dry before marinating so the spices actually cling and create that beautiful crust
- Taste your cherries first and add a pinch more honey to the dressing if theyre particularly tart