Baby Spinach and Feta Quinoa Salad

This Baby Spinach and Feta Quinoa Salad is inspired by a salad I found at the deli counter. It's made with quinoa, baby spinach, bell pepper, corn, onions, feta cheese, and a simple dressing.

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Do you ever just really want a salad?

A couple weeks ago, I hit up the deli counter at the supermarket for some salads.  I took home a small container of a baby spinach and feta quinoa salad that totally rocked my taste buds!  It was fresh, healthy, and packed with flavor!  So I snapped a shot of the label and worked off of the ingredient list to try and make my own version.

My version came pretty close.

Baby Spinach and Feta Quinoa Salad

Over the past year, quinoa has become a pretty big staple in our home. It's become the base for many side dishes and salads and taken the place of grains like rice.  Not only is quinoa super healthy for you, but it's a great foundation for building an awesome salad!  This salad starts with rainbow quinoa.  Rainbow quinoa isn't much different than regular quinoa.  I just like the extra color and nuttiness to it.  If you like regular quinoa, go with it!

Once the quinoa is cooked and cooled, I mixed in baby spinach, feta cheese, corn, cilantro, green onion, and red bell peppers.  I roasted the bell peppers over the flame on my stove.  If you're not doing this already, I highly recommend starting. Char the skin, let it cool, then peel it off.  Roasting peppers gives them an amazing flavor!  Finally, this dish gets finished off with a homemade lime and garlic dressing with a slight kick of chili paste!

Baby Spinach and Feta Quinoa Salad

Jessica

This Baby Spinach and Feta Quinoa Salad is inspired by a salad I found at the deli counter. It’s made with quinoa, baby spinach, bell pepper, corn, onions, feta cheese, and a simple dressing.

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Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Course Salad, Side Dish

Servings 6

Ingredients

  

• 1 1/2 cup rainbow quinoa cooked according to package
• 2 red bell peppers roasted and diced
• 1 - 8.5 oz can sweet corn drained
• Approx. 2 cups baby spinach leaves
• 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 2 green onions chopped
• 1 tbsp. fresh cilantro chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the dressing:

• 1/3 cup white vinegar
• Extra virgin olive oil
• 1 lime juiced
• 1 garlic clove mashed
• 1 tbsp. mild chili paste

Instructions

 

• In a large bowl, mix the quinoa, bell peppers, corn, spinach leaves, feta, green onions, and cilantro together.
• Add vinegar, drizzle of olive oil, lime juice, garlic, and chili paste to a jar. Screw on the lid and shake the jar until ingredients are combined.
• Pour the dressing over the salad and mix to coat evenly.
• Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Keyword baby spinach, cheese, healthy eating, healthy recipes, quinoa, summer dishes

I can't describe how good this salad is. You just have to trust me on this and make a batch for yourself. It's packed with flavor and all sorts of ingredients. It's not too spicy, but if you're not a fan of spicy foods just cut out the chili paste or drop it (like it's hot) down to a teaspoon, or even half a teaspoon, and work from there.

This version is so much cheaper than the supermarket's and probably a tad fresher than the deli case (I mean, let's not go there, but I'll just leave you with that).  It's a colorful feast for your eyes and a super healthy side dish!

Did you make this Baby Spinach and Feta Quinoa Salad recipe? Share it on social media using the hashtag #holokahome. Don’t forget to tag me @holokahome!