Roasted Cherry and Pistachio Quinoa Salad (Printable Version)

Sweet roasted cherries, crunchy pistachios, and nutty quinoa in zesty citrus vinaigrette

# What You'll Need:

→ Quinoa & Base

01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Roasted Cherries

04 - 2 cups fresh cherries, pitted and halved
05 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
06 - Pinch of salt

→ Salad Additions

07 - 1/2 cup shelled pistachios, roughly chopped
08 - 1/3 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
09 - 4 oz baby arugula or mixed greens
10 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced

→ Citrus Vinaigrette

11 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
12 - 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
13 - 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice
14 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
15 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
16 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Toss cherries with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of salt. Spread in a single layer on the baking sheet and roast for 15-18 minutes until juicy and slightly caramelized. Cool slightly.
03 - Bring water and 1/4 teaspoon salt to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add rinsed quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and cool to room temperature.
04 - In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, orange juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper to make the vinaigrette.
05 - Add cooled quinoa, roasted cherries, pistachios, mint, arugula, and red onion to the bowl. Toss gently to combine with the vinaigrette.
06 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately or chill for 30 minutes for deeper flavor.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The roasted cherries become little bursts of sweetness that make every bite exciting
  • It keeps beautifully for days, actually tasting better after the flavors meld together
02 -
  • Let the quinoa cool completely before mixing it with the greens, or the arugula will wilt into sadness
  • The roasted cherries should still hold their shape but be soft and jammy, not dried out
03 -
  • Pit your cherries with a paper clip bent open—works better than most cherry pitters I've tried
  • Toast the pistachios in a dry pan for 2 minutes before adding them for maximum flavor

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