Hey lovely people out there, this week has been a doozy so far for me, how about you? I’m not going to wish for the weekend but can I get a breather!?
Since it’s getting kinda cold around here, I thought I would share a hot salad idea that I created tonight that was AMAZING. I had a typical salad for lunch today, however, I was still jonesing for more greens at dinner, but wanted something warm and comforting at the same time.
Enter…The Warm Quinoa Salad.
Usually when it’s cold outside, I eat more cooked foods than in the Spring and Summer. This salad is the best of all seasons – a way to get a little something cooked and a little something almost raw in the same meal…
This recipe uses quick ingredients – Quinoa (15 mins) and jarred organic Eden Foods or Good Boy Organics Biodynamic tomato sauce (2 secs if you have a strong grip). It’s nice, of course, if you make your own tomato sauce, but let’s be realistic, I worked until 7pm, it is chilly, I want to hibernate, organic tomatoes are scarce, expensive and frankly not that tasty this time of year. Ok, have I made enough excuses yet?!
I could have eaten the whole pan of this salad… Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
- 1 cup of dry quinoa cooked (follow directions on package)
- ½ cup onions chopped
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper (more if you like it spicy)
- 2 cups tomato sauce of your choice
- 4-6 cups arugula
- 2 ounces of raw parmesan cheese grated (Optional)
- Preheat a skillet on medium
- Cook onions about 3 mins
- Pour sauce and red pepper into pan and heat sauce with onions well ~ 3 mins
- Combine cooked quinoa into sauce and cook ~ 2 mins
- Add arugula and let arugula slightly wilt ~ 1-2 mins
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve hot
Bon Appetit,
Food Babe
P.S. Do you have a warm salad recipe to share? Please tell me and other in the comments below.
Just made this and it’s absolutely delicious! Thank you for all your wonderful recipes!
You are welcome Lauren! So happy you liked it! Even though the recipe title says “winter” – I’m still going to make it all year long 🙂
Yum! Yum! Going to try this next week! Thank you for your most delicious and nutritious recipes!
Just made this for lunch and it’s AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know what I’m having for lunch tomorrow! I already have cooked quinoa in my fridge. Yum!
Just wondering what arugula is?? I’ve never heard of it before.
Hi Kellie – arugula is a green peppery leaf that can be used either raw in salads or cooked like you would spinach. When the leaves are younger and smaller, they are more mild. When it is more mature, it has more of a peppery bite. Absolutely delicious! Hope you try it!
Arugula is also known as rocket in some places.
Hi! Do you think this would be good with Kale instead of arugula? Thanks!
I make a similar recipe about 3 times a week. Only it’s with wilted spinach, cheese & toasted chopped pecans (also no tomatoe sauce) so easy and seriously obsessed!
That looks amazing….I may have to go try it right now! I just happen to have all those ingredients on hand. May add a little baby kale also!
Where can one buy raw Parmesan? What brand? Thank you.
I buy my raw Parmesan cheese at trader joe’s. It’s shredded .
Is it raw?
Pls disregard my response. I didn’t read carefully. Thank you.
This sounds so good for work lunches. I like lunches to be light, but filling. I’m going to make this tonight.
I am going to try this today, sounds delicious!!! loving all your posts!
Will try this soon. My suggestion is not a warm salad, but similar. Julienne spinach & put in separate serving bowls or dishes–Top with warm pasta of choice–The warm pasta wilts the spinach & gives the whole dish another dimension. It also preserves all the nutrients in the spinach.
Thanks for the inspiration! Just made a warm salad with quinoa, baby kale & roasted beets -sprinkled with walnuts & pomegranate seeds. Yum! Now if I could get my other family members to eat it…..
I just made this for dinner, eating it now and VERY pleased!
I have never made Quinoa and I’m worried my kid wont like it. Do you have any kid-friendly recipes? Maybe a way I can introduce it so she will learn to like it. I’m not worried about me I think it will be awesome!
Sounds delicious. Can you serve this cold? I want to make it ahead for a gathering at a friends house and would chill it. Wonder if it would get soggy or droopy?