Grilled Nectarine Lime Quinoa Salad (Printable Version)
Summer grain salad with grilled nectarines, quinoa, and zesty lime dressing for a fresh seasonal dish.
# What You'll Need:
→ Grains
01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 2 cups water
→ Fruit & Vegetables
03 - 3 ripe nectarines, halved and pitted
04 - 1 cup baby arugula or spinach
05 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
→ Nuts & Seeds
07 - 1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds (optional)
→ Dressing
08 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
09 - Zest and juice of 2 limes
10 - 1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup
11 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How To Make:
01 - In a saucepan, bring quinoa and water to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy. Remove from heat and let cool.
02 - While quinoa cooks, preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat.
03 - Brush nectarine halves lightly with a bit of olive oil. Grill, cut side down, for 2–3 minutes or until grill marks appear and fruit is softened. Let cool slightly, then slice.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime zest and juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined.
05 - In a large bowl, combine cooked quinoa, grilled nectarine slices, arugula or spinach, red onion, and cilantro. Drizzle with the dressing and toss gently to combine.
06 - Top with toasted sliced almonds just before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Grilling the fruit transforms ordinary nectarines into something smoky and caramelized that you will want to put on everything.
- The lime dressing wakes up every single ingredient and ties the whole bowl together without weighing it down.
02 -
- Hot quinoa will wilt the arugula into a sad puddle so spread it on a sheet pan to cool quickly if you are in a hurry.
- The dressing tastes overly tart on its own but mellows dramatically once it meets the sweet grilled fruit and earthy grains.
03 -
- A cast iron grill pan leaves better marks than most outdoor grills and gives you more control over the heat.
- Doubling the dressing recipe takes almost no extra effort and you will be glad to have the leftover jar in the fridge for other salads all week.