Festive Quinoa with Dried Fruits

Festive Quinoa Recipe with Nuts

Hello! We are going to prepare a festive quinoa salad with nuts, a dish that combines texture, flavor, and nutrients in the most harmonious way. Ideal for those looking for a healthy, colorful, and energy-filled food, perfect for any time of day. Join us to discover how to prepare this recipe full of life and flavor.

Preparation time

This recipe is simple and quick, ideal for those who have little time but want to prepare something nutritious and delicious.

• Preparation: 15 minutes
• Cooking: 15 minutes
• Total: 30 minutes
• Servings: 4
• Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

For the quinoa

• 1 cup of quinoa
• 2 cups of vegetable broth

For the nuts and vegetables

• 1/4 cup of sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup of raisins
• 1/4 cup of pine nuts
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 cucumber, sliced
• 1 tomato, diced
• 1/4 cup of pitted black olives, sliced
• Chopped fresh basil leaves

For the dressing

• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

If you don't have vegetable broth, you can substitute it with water with a little salt and a touch of aromatic herbs to enhance the flavor. If you don't have pine nuts, sunflower or pumpkin seeds can also work to provide that crunchy touch.

Utensils we will use

• Medium pot for cooking quinoa
• Pan for toasting the nuts
• Large mixing bowl
• Knife and cutting board
• Spoon or spatula for mixing
• Small container for the dressing

Preparation

1. Cooking the quinoa

1. Wash the quinoa: Place the quinoa in a colander and rinse it under the tap with cold water. This helps remove saponins, compounds that can give it a bitter taste.
2. Boil the broth: In a pot, bring 2 cups of vegetable broth to a boil.
3. Cook the quinoa: Add the quinoa to the boiling broth, reduce the heat to low, and cover the pot. Let it cook for about 15 minutes, or until the grains are tender and the liquid has been absorbed.
4. Let cool: Once cooked, transfer the quinoa to a bowl and let it cool to room temperature to prevent it from moistening the rest of the ingredients.

2. Toasting nuts

1. Heat the pan: Place the pan over medium heat without adding oil.
2. Toast the nuts and raisins: Place the sliced almonds, chopped walnuts, pine nuts, and raisins in the pan. Stir constantly to prevent them from burning and to brown evenly.
3. Remove and let cool: When they start to release aroma and have a golden color, remove the pan from the heat and set aside the contents.

3. Preparation of vegetables

1. Wash and cut: Wash the red bell pepper, cucumber, and tomato well. Cut the bell pepper and tomato into small cubes and the cucumber into thin slices, approximately 3-5 mm to maintain a fresh texture.
2. Chop the basil: Take the fresh basil leaves and chop them finely to add an herbal aroma that elevates the overall flavor of the salad.
3. Prepare the olives: If the olives have pits, carefully remove them and slice them thinly to evenly distribute their salty flavor.

4. Mix and dress

1. Combine ingredients: In the large bowl, mix the cold quinoa with the toasted nuts, bell pepper, cucumber, tomato, olives, and basil.
2. Prepare the dressing: In a small container, mix the lemon juice with olive oil, salt, and pepper. The lemon adds freshness and the oil helps integrate the flavors and provide healthy fats.
3. Incorporate the dressing: Pour the dressing over the salad and mix gently so that all ingredients are coated without crushing the quinoa or vegetables.

To finish and serve

Check the seasoning and adjust with salt or pepper if necessary. Serve the salad fresh, decorating with a few extra basil leaves for color and aroma. This dish is perfect both as a light side for meats or for a complete lunch. You can accompany it with a little whole wheat bread or a fresh drink, enjoying its unique texture and flavor.

Nutritional benefits of festive quinoa with nuts

This salad is a nutritional gem that provides a balanced combination of macronutrients and essential micronutrients for daily well-being.

The quinoa is known for being a whole grain, as it offers high biological value proteins, antimicrobials, and all essential amino acids. Additionally, it provides fiber that aids digestion and maintains a feeling of fullness.

The nuts such as almonds, walnuts, and pine nuts provide healthy fats—especially omega-3s—that promote heart and brain health.

Raisins, in addition to adding natural sweetness to the dish, contain iron and antioxidants that contribute to circulatory health and energy.

Fresh vegetables (bell pepper, cucumber, tomato) add vitamins, minerals, and plenty of hydration.

On the other hand, extra virgin olive oil is a source of monounsaturated fats and anti-inflammatory antioxidants, harmonizing with the philosophy of a Mediterranean diet healthy. You can learn to prepare other similar fresh and nutritious salads, for example one Mediterranean quinoa salad that shares ingredients and principles.

Versatility in the preparation and presentation of festive quinoa

One of the great advantages of this recipe is how easy it is to adapt it to different tastes and occasions.

For example, if you want a fresher and more summery dish, you can add fruits like apple or cranberries, combining the sweet touch with the crunchy texture of nuts. This makes it an interesting option for healthy breakfasts or energetic snacks, as in other recipes that use quinoa with nuts and fruits.

If the weather is colder, you can enjoy it warm by adding mild spice labels like cinnamon or a touch of fresh ginger, which will give it a warmer and more comforting profile.

In addition, the quantity and type of nuts can vary according to your preference or availability. Nutritionally, all options provide benefits and interesting texture, for example by changing almonds for hazelnuts or substituting pine nuts for sacha inchi seeds, also known as “Inca peanut.”

The detailed preparation of quinoa for a perfect result

The most technical step in this recipe is cooking the quinoa correctly. This process prevents it from becoming pasty or bitter.

First, rinsing the quinoa removes saponins, which are compounds that protect the seed in nature, but which can provide an unpleasant taste.

By cooking it with vegetable broth instead of water, a richer and deeper flavor is achieved, making the base of the dish already have personality. It is important to keep the heat low and the pot covered so that the grains absorb the liquid slowly and remain white, soft but firm.

Letting the quinoa cool before incorporating it into the rest of the ingredients prevents the bell pepper, cucumber, or basil leaves from becoming excessively moist, achieving a very pleasant contrast of textures on the palate.

For those with little time, it is also valid to prepare the quinoa a day before and keep it covered in the refrigerator until it is time to use it. This way they can have this express recipe ready or vary it for a healthy breakfast with nuts and fresh fruits.

Tips for toasting nuts while maintaining their optimal texture and flavor

Toasting nuts improves their aroma, flavor, and texture, but they must be toasted carefully so they don't burn and become bitter.

Use a dry pan and keep the heat medium. Constantly move the almonds, walnuts, pine nuts, and raisins so they toast evenly. The smell of toasted nuts is your best signal to remove the pan.

A trick is to let them cool on a plate once off the heat, which helps preserve that crunch without them continuing to cook with residual heat.

If you have doubts, you can toast small batches to control the process. This is especially useful with pine nuts, which are delicate and toast very quickly.

Textures and flavors: the key to a salad that delights

This recipe plays with several elements that provide contrasting textures: quinoa is soft and fluffy; nuts, crunchy and toasted; fresh bell pepper, cucumber, and tomato add juiciness and freshness; olives offer a salty touch and basil leaves a fresh aroma.

A final touch of the dressing with olive oil and lemon enhances all these flavors, rounding out the dish and making every bite a party in your mouth. This simple yet carefully crafted combination is an example of how to enhance natural ingredients to achieve an unforgettable experience.

For those who like to explore more, you can adapt the salad with different herbs or add a little fresh chili if you want a spicy kick. It's also possible to accompany it with light proteins like grilled chicken or fish, in line with easy healthy options like the shrimp salad with mango.

Options to enjoy festive quinoa at different times of the day

Although originally conceived as a salad to share at lunch or dinner, this mix also works excellently as an energizing breakfast or a nutritious snack.

By adding fresh fruits or yogurt, quinoa transforms into a complete breakfast. Furthermore, its high protein content from the nuts and the quinoa itself helps maintain energy throughout the morning. Experiment with variations that include seeds, dried fruits, or vegetable creams to enrich its flavor and nutritional contribution.

As a careful example, on hot days you can serve it cold directly from the fridge. In cooler weather, accompany it with an infusion or warm drink.