Sweet Potato and Quinoa Salad
Roasted sweet potatoes with quinoa, greens, goat cheese, cranberries and a tangy maple-dijon dressing. A beautiful salad for fall or the holidays.
Equipment
Ingredients
Sweet Potato and Quinoa Salad
- 4 cups diced sweet potatoes, ~2 sweet potatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon each: cinnamon, cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper
- pinch cayenne pepper
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa
- 6 cups baby greens, baby spinach leaves, arugula or other combination of tender lettuce
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese, or 1 large chopped avocado for dairy-free option
Maple Vinaigrette
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup olive oil
Instructions
Make the sweet potatoes
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Toss the sweet potatoes with the olive oil, spices (cinnamon, cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, cayenne, if using), until well coated. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast for 25-30 minutes, stirring halfway until potatoes are tender.
Make the quinoa
- While the sweet potatoes are cooking, make the quinoa. Rinse the quinoa (I use a fine-mesh strainer) and place in a medium saucepan with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 12 minutes, then turn off heat and let sit for another 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and let cool.
Make the dressing
- Whisk together the syrup, vinegar, dijon mustard, garlic, and salt until combined, then slowly drizzle in the olive oil, whisking the entire time until a dressing comes together. Taste, adding more salt/pepper as desired.
Make the salad
- In a large bowl, combine the greens, cooked potatoes, cranberries, goat cheese and cooked quinoa. Add the dressing and toss until well coated, then serve immediately.
Notes
This sweet potato and quinoa salad tastes best when served right away. If wanting to make this salad ahead of time, prep the sweet potatoes, make the dressing and cook the quinoa. Then assemble right before serving.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 613kcalCarbohydrates: 71gProtein: 13gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 349mgPotassium: 834mgFiber: 8gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 19754IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 109mgIron: 4mg