Cherry Quinoa Salad With Lamb (Print Version)

Tender spiced lamb meets juicy cherries and fluffy quinoa in this vibrant Mediterranean bowl with fresh herbs and zesty dressing.

# What You Need:

→ Lamb

01 - 14 oz lamb loin or leg, trimmed and sliced into strips
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp ground cumin
04 - 1 tsp ground coriander
05 - ½ tsp salt
06 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Quinoa

07 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
08 - 2 cups water
09 - ½ tsp salt

→ Salad Components

10 - 1¼ cups fresh cherries, pitted and halved
11 - 3½ oz baby spinach or arugula
12 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
13 - ⅓ cup feta cheese, crumbled
14 - ¼ cup toasted pistachios or almonds, roughly chopped
15 - 2 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
16 - 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

→ Herb Dressing

17 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
18 - 1½ tbsp lemon juice
19 - 1 tsp honey
20 - ½ tsp Dijon mustard
21 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Combine rinsed quinoa, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is fully absorbed. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, and allow to cool completely.
02 - While quinoa simmers, toss lamb strips in a bowl with olive oil, ground cumin, coriander, salt, and black pepper. Ensure strips are evenly coated and let sit at room temperature to absorb flavors.
03 - Whisk together extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified and smooth.
04 - Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook marinated lamb strips for 2-3 minutes per side until browned and cooked to desired doneness. Transfer to a cutting board and rest for 5 minutes before slicing into bite-sized pieces.
05 - In a large serving bowl, combine cooled quinoa, fresh cherries, spinach or arugula, sliced red onion, crumbled feta, toasted nuts, fresh mint, and parsley.
06 - Add sliced lamb to the salad mixture. Pour dressing over the top and toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with additional herbs and nuts if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The combination of warm spiced lamb against cool juicy cherries creates this incredible temperature contrast that wakes up your whole palate
  • It comes together in under an hour but looks like something you would order at a fancy restaurant
  • The leftovers hold up beautifully for next day lunches which is rare for a salad this delicate
02 -
  • Letting the quinoa cool completely before adding it to the salad prevents the greens from wilting and the feta from melting
  • Do not overcrowd the pan when searing the lamb or the meat will steam instead of developing that beautiful crust
  • The dressing can be made up to two days ahead but keep the herbs separate until serving to prevent discoloration
03 -
  • Reserve a handful of whole cherries and some extra feta to scatter on top for the most beautiful presentation
  • Use a sharp knife to pit the cherries by cutting around the pit and twisting rather than using a cherry pitter which can bruise the fruit

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