Description
This Quinoa Salad with Roasted Beets & Orange is a colorful, nutrient-packed dish featuring earthy roasted beets, fluffy quinoa, juicy orange segments, and a zesty citrus vinaigrette — perfect for a light lunch or elegant side dish.
Ingredients
3 medium beets, trimmed and peeled
1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
2 cups water or vegetable broth
2 oranges, peeled and segmented
½ cup crumbled goat cheese or feta
¼ cup chopped walnuts or pistachios, toasted
2 cups baby spinach or arugula
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
For the Citrus Vinaigrette:
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp fresh orange juice
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp honey or maple syrup
½ tsp Dijon mustard
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Cut the beets into 1-inch cubes, drizzle with olive oil, and roast for 30–35 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender.
3. Meanwhile, cook the quinoa: in a medium pot, bring quinoa and water (or broth) to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and let cool slightly.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, orange juice, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper to make the vinaigrette.
5. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked quinoa, roasted beets, orange segments, spinach, goat cheese, and nuts.
6. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to combine.
7. Garnish with parsley and serve warm or chilled.
Notes
For a vegan version, omit cheese or use a dairy-free alternative.
Golden beets can be substituted for red beets for a milder flavor.
Add avocado or roasted sweet potato for extra creaminess.
This salad keeps well refrigerated for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Roasted
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ½ cups
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 200
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 36
- Fiber: 6
- Protein: 9
- Cholesterol: 10
Keywords: quinoa beet salad, orange beet salad, healthy quinoa salad, vegetarian salad, citrus vinaigrette