Cherry Quinoa Salad With Lamb (Printable)
Tender lamb, fresh cherries, and fluffy quinoa tossed with zesty herbs and crumbled feta for a satisfying summer meal.
# What You Need:
→ Lamb
01 - 14 oz lamb loin or leg, trimmed and sliced into strips
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp ground cumin
04 - 1 tsp ground coriander
05 - ½ tsp salt
06 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Quinoa
07 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
08 - 2 cups water
09 - ½ tsp salt
→ Salad Components
10 - 1¼ cups fresh cherries, pitted and halved
11 - 3½ oz baby spinach or arugula
12 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
13 - ⅓ cup feta cheese, crumbled
14 - ¼ cup toasted pistachios or almonds, roughly chopped
15 - 2 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
16 - 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
→ Dressing
17 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
18 - 1½ tbsp lemon juice
19 - 1 tsp honey
20 - ½ tsp Dijon mustard
21 - Salt and pepper, to taste
# How To Make:
01 - Combine rinsed quinoa, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, and allow to cool completely.
02 - Toss lamb strips with olive oil, ground cumin, coriander, salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl. Let marinate while the quinoa cooks to absorb the Mediterranean spices.
03 - Whisk together extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified. Set aside for tossing.
04 - Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Sear marinated lamb strips for 2–3 minutes per side until browned and cooked to desired doneness. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing into bite-sized pieces.
05 - In a large serving bowl, combine cooled quinoa, fresh cherries, spinach or arugula, thinly sliced red onion, crumbled feta cheese, toasted pistachios, chopped mint, and parsley.
06 - Add sliced lamb to the salad mixture. Drizzle the prepared dressing over the top and toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
07 - Serve immediately, garnished with additional fresh herbs and toasted nuts if desired. Pairs excellently with a chilled rosé or light red wine.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The combination of warm spiced lamb against cool crisp greens creates that perfect temperature contrast that makes every bite interesting
- Cherries might seem unusual in a savory salad but their natural sweetness balances the earthy lamb and tangy feta in ways you wouldnt expect
02 -
- If you use dried cherries soak them in warm water for 10 minutes first or they'll be tough and chewy instead of plump
- The lamb keeps cooking after you take it out of the pan so pull it a minute before you think it's done
03 -
- If you're taking this to a party keep the dressing separate and toss it right before serving to prevent sogginess
- Room temperature cherries have more flavor than cold ones so let them sit out while you prep everything else