Name: Sweet Pineapple Chicken Quinoa Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Tropical
Ingredients: 4 cups water; 2 cups uncooked quinoa; 2 Tablespoons olive oil; 2 Tablespoons lemon juice; 2 teaspoons ground ginger; 1 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon salt; 4 cups fresh arugula (roughly chopped); 2 cups cooked chicken breast (chopped); 1 1/2 cup shelled (whole) pistachios; 1 cup chopped green onions; 1 cup fresh cilantro (rinsed and finely chopped); 1 cup chopped dried pineapple; 1 cup dried cherries (roughly chopped); 1 cup flaked (unsweetened) coconut

Description

A vibrant bowl of flavor combining fluffy quinoa, succulent chicken, and the sweetness of pineapple tossed with zesty lemon and fresh herbs.

Ingredients

Scale

4 cups water
2 cups uncooked quinoa
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups fresh arugula (roughly chopped)
2 cups cooked chicken breast (chopped)
1 1/2 cup shelled (whole) pistachios
1 cup chopped green onions
1 cup fresh cilantro (rinsed and finely chopped)
1 cup chopped dried pineapple
1 cup dried cherries (roughly chopped)
1 cup flaked (unsweetened) coconut

Instructions

Rinse and cook quinoa: start by rinsing the quinoa under cold water. In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed quinoa with the 4 cups of water. Bring it to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for about 15 minutes until water is absorbed.
Prep your dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, ground ginger, ground cumin, and salt. Adjust to taste.
Chop and combine: In a large mixing bowl, combine your cooked quinoa, arugula, chopped chicken, pistachios, green onions, cilantro, dried pineapple, dried cherries, and coconut.
Mix the dressing: Drizzle your dressing over the salad mixture and gently fold everything together.
Taste and adjust: Always taste your creation! Adjust seasoning as necessary.
Chill out (optional): Let the salad chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to meld flavors.

Notes

For a tropical twist, add diced mango or papaya. You can also substitute chickpeas for the chicken for a vegan option.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: Mixing
Cuisine: Tropical

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 350
Sugar: 8g
Sodium: 500mg
Fat: 15g
Saturated Fat: 1g
Unsaturated Fat: 10g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 40g
Fiber: 5g
Protein: 20g
Cholesterol: 60mg

Keywords: quinoa salad, chicken salad, tropical salad, healthy salad, summer salad