Name: Summery Mixed Berry Quinoa Salad with Avocado
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups cooked quinoa, cooled (from about 3/4 cup uncooked quinoa); 2 cups fresh blueberries; 2 cups sliced, fresh strawberries; 1 avocado, chopped/diced; 1/2 cup chopped pecans (or use another nut like walnuts, sliced almonds or seeds); 1/4 cup roughly chopped herbs (I used a combination of mint, basil and parsley); 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 2 tablespoons honey; Zest and juice of 1 lime; pinch of salt

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A simple Summery Mixed Berry Quinoa Salad with Avocado recipe is the perfect (and easy) lunch or side dish all summer long. This zesty, clean eating and vegetarian quinoa salad made with strawberries, blueberries, mint, basil and a homemade lime and honey dressing is not only healthy but also delicious!

Hello, summer on a plate!

I am so excited to share THIS. This beautiful and delicious and wholesome and wonderful plate of goodness. This grainy salad that screams summer and where fresh herbs and fresh berries and bright and zesty flavours come together in the best way possible.

This Summery Mixed Berry Quinoa Salad with Avocado is quite possibly my new favourite side dish and salad.

3 words to describe this salad… NUTRITIOUS. DELICIOUS. SIMPLE.

Summery Mixed Berry Quinoa Salad with Avocado

Author: Rebecca | Always Nourished
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 4

Description

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups cooked quinoa, cooled (from about 3/4 cup uncooked quinoa)
2 cups fresh blueberries
2 cups sliced, fresh strawberries
1 avocado, chopped/diced
1/2 cup chopped pecans (or use another nut like walnuts, sliced almonds or seeds)
1/4 cup roughly chopped herbs (I used a combination of mint, basil and parsley)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons honey
Zest and juice of 1 lime
pinch of salt

Instructions

To a large mixing bowl add the cooked quinoa, berries, avocado, pecans and herbs.
In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, add oil, honey, zest and juice of a lime and a good pinch of salt. Shake until combined.
Pour dressing all over quinoa, berries and avocado in the mixing bowl and stir and toss to combine. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with extra nuts and more herbs if desired.

Notes

This salad is best consumed within 1 day.

MORE ABOUT THIS MIXED BERRY QUINOA SALAD RECIPE…

SIMPLE!

Fluffy quinoa (bonus points if you use quinoa that you batched earlier in the week to save even more time!) meets bright, fresh, sweet and tender berries and a zesty, citrus-y dressing, crunchy nuts and creamy avocado.

And that’s pretty much that.

And it really is one of those just throw everything in a big bowl, mix it together and serve it up. It is meant to be more a side dish rather than a meal on its own. Chicken, fish, meat, veggies, that family potluck BBQ – it goes well with it all.

I would suggest eating this salad within a day of making it. As berries do, with the sweet and acid from the dressing they start breaking down and releasing their juices which change their texture after about a day so it’s best to not have this one sitting in the fridge for too long.

I always prefer white quinoa to the coloured quinoas for salad but you do you as any quinoa (or other grain) would work. As for my choice of berries – I always have loads of strawberries and blueberries on hand throughout the summer so they are my go-to but really most berries would work here as well.

This sweet zesty lime dressing that really ties everything together. It’s super simple too, really just 4 ingredients.

Other stars of this salad – fresh herbs, a nutty crunchy and avocado. Mint, basil and parsley and wonderful and fresh and bright and summery and perfect for a summery salad. And my nut of choice here was the pecan but walnuts, or seeds would work just as well. And because avocado.

A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS SUMMERY BERRY QUINOA SALAD

Guys, summertime is all about simplicity. It’s about enjoying the sunshine, the lake days, the pool parties, the BBQs, the icy cold beverages. It’s about enjoying all the joys of seeing the brightest, most beautiful flowers and tasting the freshest, most delicious fruits and veggies.

And I can think of no better way to do that, the joys of tasting the freshest, most delicious fruits and veggies than with simple, yet bright and vibrant salads. You guys, summer salads are my happy place. This quinoa salad is my happy place. (And if you like this summery salad you will LOVE this one too!)

Also, my happy place not spending hours and hours in the kitchen in June, July and August and spending more time slowing down, relaxing and doing more of what I love (which these days is iced coffees, reading self-development books and lazy afternoons in my backyard because I have one of those now!!).

But not spending hours and hours in the kitchen. Which is why I LOVE this salad. Light, refreshing, pairs perfectly with just about anything and has that wonderful summery feel to it and can be ready is T-minus 20 minutes.

It doesn’t get much better than that!

I hope you like this recipe as much as I do! If you give this Summery Mixed Berry Quinoa Salad with Avocado recipe a try let me know in the comments below and be sure to share a picture on Instagram using the tags @alwaysnourished and #alwaysnourishedfood. I L.O.V.E. to see what you’re cooking!

Summery Mixed Berry Quinoa Salad with Avocado