Chicken and Fruit Quinoa Salad

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

I love the way that fruit can compliment any meal of the day. This chicken and fruit quinoa salad pairs the tartness of green apples with the sweetness of raisins to liven up this perfect summer lunch. I also love that quinoa salads travel much better than lettuce salads. This lunch can easily be packed away for a meal at work or school.

I like to use avocado oil for this salad dressing because it has such a mild and light flavor. If you don’t have any you can always use olive oil or any other oil that you prefer. I just like having avocado oil around for the few times you need a nice lightweight oil. It’s also very healthy, so there’s always that.

I used golden raisins for this recipe because I had some leftover from this Slow Cooker Moroccon Chicken. But feel free to just use normal raisins. They all taste pretty much the same and the golden ones are quite a bit more expensive so don’t feel like you need to make a special trip to the store for golden raisins. You could really use any dried fruit that you like for this chicken and fruit quinoa salad.

You can cook the chicken in whatever way is easiest for you. I typically just use the stovetop. Lightly oil a pan over medium heat, and sear one side of a salt and peppered chicken breast for 7-9 minutes, flip, cover, cook another 10 minutes and check the internal temperature. This ensures a nice browning on the outside without losing too much moisture on the inside. Let it rest a few minutes before cubing it. You’ll also want to get the chicken and quinoa down to room temperature before combining with the other ingredients for the best results. This chicken and fruit quinoa salad will taste best after its chilled for a bit to let the flavors blend.

Is quinoa hard to digest?

Short answer, yes. The outer shell of the quinoa seed contains a component called saponins which is very difficult for our stomaches to process. Combined with the high fiber found in quinoa you may find that eating it causes you some stomach upset.

The best way to avoid this is to rinse your quinoa well before cooking. You may also pre-soak your quinoa to help break down the tough outer shell. Quinoa can be a very healthy addition to any elimination diet and since it is naturally gluten free it’s a good way to mix up your grains from rice alone. Just take the extra precautions and eat in moderation.

Ingredients

For the dressing

• 3 tbsp avocado oil
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp spicy brown mustard
• 2 tbsp real maple syrup
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• salt to taste

For the Salad

• 2 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
• 2 cups cooked quinoa
• 2 green apples, diced
• 4 green onions, chopped, white parts included
• 1 carrot, shredded
• ¼ cup raisins

Instructions

1. combine dressing ingredients in a large bowl
2. add the salad ingredients to the bowl and toss well
3. chill for an hour
4. serve cold

rate this recipe!