Grilled Apricot and Thyme Quinoa (Printable Version)
Smoky grilled apricots with nutty quinoa, fresh vegetables, and herbs in a light vinaigrette.
# What You'll Need:
→ Grains
01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 2 cups water
→ Fruit
03 - 4 ripe apricots, halved and pitted
→ Vegetables
04 - 1 small cucumber, diced
05 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
06 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced
→ Herbs & Greens
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
08 - 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
09 - 2 cups arugula or baby spinach
→ Dressing
10 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
11 - 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
12 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Optional Toppings
15 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
16 - 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts or chopped almonds
# How To Make:
01 - Combine quinoa and 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 stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and cool slightly.
02 - Preheat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Lightly brush cut sides of apricot halves with olive oil. Grill cut side down for 2-3 minutes until grill marks appear and fruit is slightly softened. Cool, then slice each half into wedges.
03 - Whisk together olive oil, vinegar, honey or maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
04 - Combine cooked quinoa, cucumber, red onion, red bell pepper, thyme, parsley, and arugula or spinach in a large bowl. Drizzle with dressing and toss gently to coat.
05 - Arrange grilled apricot slices over the salad. Sprinkle with feta cheese and pine nuts or almonds if desired.
06 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving for enhanced flavor.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The contrast between warm grilled fruit and cool crisp vegetables hits every craving
- It holds up beautifully for picnic lunches or weekday meal prep without getting soggy
02 -
- Grilling apricots releases natural sugars that caramelize quickly, so watch them carefully
- The salad actually tastes better after the dressing has time to soften the quinoa slightly
03 -
- Let the grilled apricots cool completely so they don't wilt the greens
- Toast your nuts in a dry pan until fragrant for maximum flavor impact