Fresh Berry Mint Quinoa Salad 🍓🌿 | Summer Recipe
A bright, refreshing salad that pairs fluffy quinoa with juicy berries and fragrant mint, all tossed in a light lemon-honey dressing. Perfect as a healthy side or a light main.
Equipment
- - Medium saucepan
- - Fine mesh strainer
- - Large mixing bowl
- - Whisk
- - Cutting board & knife
- - Measuring cups/spoons
Ingredients
- - 1 cup quinoa
- - 2 cups water
- - ⅛ teaspoon salt for cooking quinoa
- - 1 cup strawberries hulled and halved
- - 1 cup blueberries
- - ¼ cup red onion thinly sliced
- - ¼ cup fresh mint leaves chopped
- - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice about 1 lemon
- - 1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup
- - Salt & freshly ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- **Cook the quinoa:** Rinse the quinoa under cold water. In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water and ⅛ teaspoon salt to a boil. Add quinoa, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 12–15 minutes until water’s absorbed.
- **Cool:** Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, and transfer to a plate to cool to room temperature.
- **Prep the mix-ins:** While quinoa cools, hull and halve the strawberries, rinse the blueberries, thinly slice the red onion, and chop the mint.
- **Make the dressing:** In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey (or agave), and a pinch of salt and pepper until emulsified.
- **Assemble:** In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled quinoa, berries, onion, and mint. Pour the dressing over top and gently toss to coat evenly.
- **Season & serve:** Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Serve immediately or chill for 30 minutes for flavors to meld.