There’s salad and then there’s SALAD – you know, the one that shouts rather than whispers? The one you want MORE of…the salad that has that little something extra to take it over the top. That’s this salad, Spinach Quinoa Salad with Candied Pecans.

Spinach Quinoa Salad with Candied Pecans

What is it about salty, sweet, tart that makes you want to take another bite and another and another? That special balance of flavors that hits all the right notes? This salad (you might have guessed from the name, lol) has Candied Pecans. Yep – golden, crunchy, sweet candied pecans to help balance out all the healthiness of this Spinach Quinoa Salad.

About Spinach Quinoa Salad with Candied Pecans:

But that’s not all this salad has. There’s spinach of course, and sweet and tart blueberries along with crunchy pears or apples, and a handful of chickpeas tossed in for a little heft. Mix all that with the golden quinoa, cooked perfectly al dente for just the right amount of chew, and you have a little magic going on.

But wait there’s more!  A deceptively simple, tart dressing with just a hint of honey (and strangely, a smidge of sesame oil that gives a “what’s in this” touch) perfectly offsets the rest of the flavors. melding all those disparate ingredients somehow into a gorgeous alchemy of flavor. Of course, you do have some latitude with this salad and it’s a great one to adapt to any seasonal flavors. If blueberries and pears aren’t your idea of nirvana, try something else. Maybe strawberries and blueberries? Maybe you just want to go rogue and use some melon or citrus. Hey, it’s your salad; add what you love and you can’t go wrong.

“Where’s the meat?” my sister asked, but between the light, fluffy quinoa, the chickpeas, and the pecans, this is actually a pretty substantial salad with a good amount of protein. It may not be “man” substantial, or even “sister” substantial, at least in my family apparently, and if that’s the case in yours, too, serve with poached or grilled chicken, either mixed in or alongside.

Light Fluffy Quinoa, Instant Pot or Stove

Instant Pot Chickpeas 2

Braised Chickpeas

Candied Pecans

Making Spinach Quinoa Salad with Candied Pecans:

There are a few components to make for this salad, and all can be made ahead. First of all, there’s the quinoa, and I gotta give a shout out to my Light Fluffly Quinoa for the Instant Pot or Stovetop. It always turns out beautifully and a great recipe takes out all the stress of cooking it. Whenever I make Quinoa, I try to get a leg up for a rainy day; I make extra and bag and tag it and freeze for later.

Then there are the Candied Pecans. They might seem like an “add on” and maybe not totally necessary, possibly a bit frivolous, but they add so much to the salad. They’re like a special little “cheffy” touch that does make this salad seem like it came from a high-end restaurant, and they’ll be part of the reason you keep eating this otherwise healthy salad! And they’re surprisingly quick and easy to make. Make a few more than you think you’ll need; you won’t be sorry! Btw, if pecans aren’t your thing, this same recipe can be used with just about any other nut.

Now the Chickpeas can be cooked up, and I have a recipe for Braised Chickpeas on my site here or Instant Pot Chickpeas. It always makes sense to me to make a full recipe of either when I need some and stash the rest in the freezer (about 1 1/2 cups are the equivalent of a can and that makes three cans worth in a pound). Since you’re already making the dressing, the quinoa, and the pecans, you might just be ready to open a can and rinse it off; there’s no shame to that game!

Saving Money on Spinach Quinoa Salad with Candied Pecans:

Quinoa may not be cheap to buy, but its a good value for your money. It’s packed with protein, nutrients, and flavor and it’s a great way to up your nutrition game. It does pay to shop around, even at a single grocery store. Check the rice & beans aisle, the bulk aisle, and the health food aisle. You might need a calculator to figure out which is the best price. And of course, if you’re up to shopping around, compare prices at different stores; I’ve found they vary wildly.

There seems to be a big secret, and I get why you might want to pick up a big bag of spinach, especially since it seems like it’s ready to go. You still need to wash that spinach; greens can pose a health risk if you don’t. But that’s not the secret. The secret is that bagged lettuce, spinach, etc. is four to 10 times the amount of buying it by the head or the bunch. Those huge bags are “fluffy” but weigh very little. They’re priced by the ounce, which makes them hard to compare to actual non treated vegetables priced by the pound. Every time you pay more for less, you’re sending a message from the store all the way to the producers that it’s ok. And because they make so much more money selling by the bag, they’re happy to sell it to you, Happy to the point that it’s actually getting difficult to buy fresh vegetables in some stores – They are starting to stop carrying them.

Watch for sales on the blueberries or pick them up at your Buyer’s club or Aldi. They’re the new darling of the berries and have become readily available and so much cheaper! Pears of course, ae cheapest in season; if they’re on sale buy some that are ready now and some to ripen on your counter for later. Pecans and other nuts are best picked up during the fall sales prior to Christmas and tossed in the freezer. Again, your buyer’s club or Aldi may have great prices if a limited selection.

Spinach Quinoa Salad with Candied Pecans

Spinach Quinoa Salad with Candied Pecans

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Spinach Quinoa Salad with Candied Pecans is one of those salads you’ll just want to keep eating and eating! A combo of sweet, tart, crunchy & chewy! Full of good for you ingredients! The easy candied pecans add a cheffy restaurant touch!

• Author: mollie kirby
• Prep Time: 45 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
• Category: Salads
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

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Dressing:

• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1/2 tablespoon honey
• pinch of salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 3 tablespoons olive oil (or your choice)
• 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil

For the Salad:

• 1 bunch of spinach, rinsed, stems removed
• 3 cups of cooked quinoa (1 cup uncooked), see Light & Fluffy Quinoa
• 1 cup chickpeas, canned or cooked at home
• 1/2 pint (8 ounces) of blueberries
• 1 pear or apple sliced into quarters, hulled and then sliced across into 1/4” pieces
• 1 recipe Candied Pecans

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Instructions

For Dressing:

Mix together all ingredients together in a jar and shake. Drizzle over salad just before serving.  You can add more honey to this, to taste. The dressing is very tart which plays wonderfully with the Candied Pecans.  If you’re not using the Candied Pecans, you may like a bit more sweetness.

For the Salad;

Arrange salad as desired. Suggested: lay down a bed of the spinach, top with the quinoa and sprinkle the rest of the ingredients over the top. Drizzle with dressing right before serving.

Notes

If not using the candied pecans, add a little more honey to the dressing.

Keywords: Bargain Meal of the Week, Berries, Blueberries, Chickpeas, Dried Beans, Main dish salad, Pear, Pecans, Quinoa, Salad, Salad Dressings, Spinach, Spinach Salad

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This post for Spinach Quinoa Salad with Candied Pecans was redone in September 2019. I’ll be posting to Fiesta Friday #294 this week. It’s being hosted this by Antonia @ Zoale.com