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5 from 1 vote

Curried Grain Salad with Apple, Cashews, and Crunchy Veggies

This vibrant and colourful curried grain salad is made with quinoa, crunchy veggies, chopped apple, and paired with a tangy curry dressing.
Servings: 5
Calories: 237.4kcal
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes

Ingredients

For the salad:

  • 1/2 cup quinoa uncooked
  • ½ tsp curry powder
  • 1 red bell pepper sliced
  • 1 apple granny smith, chopped
  • ¼ cup red onion sliced
  • ⅔ cup carrot shredded
  • 4 radish thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup cilantro fresh, chopped**
  • 1/4 cup cashews chopped

For the dressing:

  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • ½ tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp tahini
  • 2 tsp curry powder
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric ground
  • ⅛ tsp salt
  • 1 pinch pepper

Notes

*Option to use other grains like bulgur, farro, or barley.
** Mint or parsley would also be excellent additions to this salad, depending on your taste preferences.

Instructions

  • In a saucepan, combine ½ cup of quinoa with 1 cup of water and ½ tsp curry powder. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Once cooked, fluff the cooked quinoa with a fork and let it cool down slightly.
    1/2 cup quinoa, ½ tsp curry powder
  • If you prefer a cold grain salad, you can prepare the quinoa ahead of time and store it in the fridge until you are ready to combine with the rest of the ingredients.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the quinoa, bell pepper, apple, red onion, carrots, radishes, cilantro, and cashews.
    1 red bell pepper, 1 apple, ¼ cup red onion, ⅔ cup carrot, 4 radish, 1/4 cup cilantro, 1/4 cup cashews
  • In a small bowl, prepare the dressing by whisking together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, tahini, curry powder, turmeric, salt, and pepper.
    3 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, ½ tbsp maple syrup, 1 tbsp tahini, 2 tsp curry powder, 1/2 tsp turmeric, ⅛ tsp salt, 1 pinch pepper
  • Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and gently toss everything together until the dressing coats the salad evenly.

Cooking Tips

Rinse Quinoa:
Rinse quinoa under cold water before cooking to remove its natural bitter coating.
Proper Quinoa Ratio:
Use the correct water-to-quinoa ratio for optimal cooking. Typically, it's 2 parts liquid to 1 part quinoa.
Choose Crisp Apples:
Opt for crisp apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for a refreshing and crunchy texture.
Lemon Juice for Apple Preservation:
Toss apple slices in lemon juice to prevent browning and add a hint of citrusy flavour.
 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Curried Grain Salad with Apple, Cashews, and Crunchy Veggies
Amount per Serving
Calories
237.4
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
14.2
g
22
%
Saturated Fat
 
2.1
g
13
%
Sodium
 
77.1
mg
3
%
Potassium
 
351.2
mg
10
%
Carbohydrates
 
24.7
g
8
%
Fiber
 
4
g
17
%
Sugar
 
7.6
g
8
%
Protein
 
4.9
g
10
%
Vitamin C
 
34.8
mg
42
%
Calcium
 
36
mg
4
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
Magnesium
 
67.2
mg
17
%
Zinc
 
1.2
mg
8
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.