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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Quinoa Harvest Salad

Fall Flavors· salad· Summertime Favorites
January 8, 2023

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Quinoa Harvest Salad – Spring mix is tossed with roasted sweet potatoes, goat cheese, roasted pepitas, dried cranberries, and quinoa to make this hearty salad. Served with a homemade creamy Dijon vinaigrette.

overhead shot of quinoa harvest salad on a plate

January is the time I tend to try out new salads. After all the indulgences we had over the holidays, I actually crave something light and healthy this month. As odd as it may seem for a pastry aficionado, it’s true! There is such a thing as too much of a good thing.

This new salad is a recreation of one I recently tried on a business trip. I was intrigued by the use of roasted sweet potato. I actually found that it complimented the dried cranberries and goat cheese very well. And the crunch of the pepitas on top was a fun change in texture. And with a little grilled chicken and quinoa on top, you’ve got a full meal!

Here is my Quinoa Harvest Salad!

close up of quinoa harvest salad on a plate
close up of dried cranberries and goat cheese in the quinoa harvest salad

Making this salad

Salads are a fun way to try new things because they are relatively simple to make. This salad has a few cooked ingredients so it adds a couple extra steps but nothing you can’t handle.

Roasting the sweet potato

Roasting veggies is one of my favorite ways to eat them. You just need to peel and cube the sweet potato, toss in olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and then finish in the oven for about 20 minutes.

overhead of roasted sweet potato on top of the quinoa harvest salad

Cooking the quinoa

Quinoa may seem foreign to many of you but it’s just a grain that gets boiled in water until fluffy, just like rice or couscous. But unlike those grains, quinoa is loaded with fiber and protein so it’s a wonderful addition to any salad.

To cook quinoa, it’s cooked in a pot with simmering water and then fluffed when all the water is absorbed. I also like to add a little salt to the water before adding the quinoa so it’s super flavorful.

Assembling the salad

Once you have the sweet potato and quinoa cooked, you are ready to assemble the salad. First, I like to lay out the greens. Then, I add on the goat cheese, cranberries, and pepitas. Finally, the chicken, roasted sweet potato and quinoa are added on top, with a drizzle of the homemade vinaigrette.

Tips & Tricks

  1. Cool the ingredients. Warm ingredients can wilt the salad. So make sure the roasted sweet potatoes and cooked quinoa are cooled before adding to the salad.
  2. Whisk the vinaigrette. To ensure the dressing is smooth and the oil emulsifies, use a whisk to combine the dressing ingredients. This will also smooth out any lumps from the mayonnaise.
Print Recipe

Quinoa Harvest Salad

Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time25 mins
Total Time35 mins
Servings: 2 large salads

Ingredients

For the salad:
  • 1 medium sweet potato
  • ½ cup uncooked quinoa (1 cup cooked)
  • 1 tablespoons olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 8 cups spring mix salad
  • 2 tablespoons roasted and salted pepitas
  • ¼ cup goat cheese crumbles
  • 4 tablespoons dried cranberries
  • 2 medium chicken breasts cooked and sliced
For the dressing:
  • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon mayonnaise
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • pinch of salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Peel sweet potato and dice into small cubes. Place on a baking sheet and toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a few sprinkles of salt and pepper. Place in preheated oven and cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, cook quinoa according to package instructions and season with a pinch of salt. Let both cool to room temperature before using.
  • Split greens into two large bowls or plates. Top each with goat cheese, cranberries, pepitas, and sliced chicken. Finish each salad with about ⅓ cup of toasted sweet potatoes and ⅓ cup of cooked quinoa.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients. Drizzle dressing over each salad and serve immediately.

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More recipes that you’ll love:

Apple Pecan Farro Salad
Tomato Panzanella Salad
Orchard Harvest Salad (Panera Copycat)

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21 Comments

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Comments

  1. Sandhya Ramakrishnan says

    January 15, 2023 at 11:38 pm

    I love using quinoa in salads and I like the use of roasted butternut squash! That adds a beautiful sweetness and love all the textures.

    Reply
  2. Tristin says

    January 15, 2023 at 6:06 pm

    Great salad recipe to start off the new year in a healthy way! Have eaten this twice already and love it!

    Reply
  3. Amanda says

    January 15, 2023 at 5:35 pm

    Such a great salad! The quinoa and sweet potatoes made it nice and hearty, and I love the touch of creamy goat cheese.

    Reply
  4. Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer says

    January 15, 2023 at 4:59 pm

    What a light, bright, and delicious recipe! This is perfect for the season! It’s so each to throw together and has such incredible flavors!

    Reply
  5. LaKita says

    January 14, 2023 at 7:28 pm

    This salad is so hearty, filling, and loaded with so many delicious ingredients! It made the perfect dinner salad!

    Reply
  6. Radwa says

    January 14, 2023 at 7:40 am

    This recipe looks delicious! I can’t wait to try it.

    Reply
  7. Helene says

    January 13, 2023 at 3:27 pm

    I am a huge fan of quinoa and have made many recipes, but this is my new favorite way to eat it. This salad is so yummy and hearty.

    Reply
  8. Veronika says

    January 13, 2023 at 9:18 am

    The combination of creamy goat cheese, tart cranberries, and tender chicken made for a delicious salad! We’ll definitely be making it again soon!

    Reply
  9. Colleen says

    January 12, 2023 at 5:18 pm

    This salad is a great combination of delicious and healthy ingredients. It’s perfect for meal prep, too.

    Reply
  10. veenaazmanov says

    January 11, 2023 at 9:58 am

    A healthy and colorful Bowl of goodness. Love the combination of ingredients. Perfect for a healthy Dinner any day.

    Reply
  11. am woods says

    January 10, 2023 at 9:40 pm

    Yummy! I’m always looking for new salad recipes and quinoa definitely hits the spot!

    Reply
  12. Charlie says

    January 10, 2023 at 6:55 pm

    This looks delicious! I’m definitely going to try it this week! After over indulging a bit over the holidays I’m ready to eat healthier

    Reply
  13. Tisha says

    January 10, 2023 at 4:33 pm

    This salad looks absolutely amazing

    Reply
  14. Tayler says

    January 10, 2023 at 2:55 pm

    I made this salad with dinner last night and oh my goodness was it delicious! I can’t wait to make it again!

    Reply
  15. Renee B says

    January 10, 2023 at 2:31 pm

    The combo of quinoa, sweet potatoes, goat cheese, and cranberries is ridiculously tasty! This is similar to a chicken version of one of our favorite Buddha bowls – satisfying and so good!

    Reply
  16. Vicky says

    January 10, 2023 at 2:28 pm

    This is just the kind of dish I am looking for as I start a new year and am trying to be healthier. Dried cranberries add so much to a salad!

    Reply
  17. Janessa says

    January 10, 2023 at 1:58 pm

    This was my kind of salad! I love the variety of textures and the dressing is so delicious.

    Reply
  18. Beth says

    January 10, 2023 at 1:53 pm

    My perfect fall meal. This is so easy and delicious!

    Reply
  19. Nadalie says

    January 10, 2023 at 12:13 pm

    This salad looks really delicious! I love a good hearty salad on the table all the time!

    Reply
  20. Amber Myers says

    January 9, 2023 at 8:42 pm

    Yum, I love to have salads for lunch so I will have to try this!

    Reply
  21. Enri Lemoine says

    January 9, 2023 at 5:02 pm

    My kind of salad. Luckily for me, I had all the ingredients on hand. I combined all of them in a bowl, and it was comforting, delicious, and satisfying!

    Reply

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