Cherry Quinoa Salad With Lamb (Printable)
Tender spiced lamb with sweet cherries, fluffy quinoa, fresh herbs and feta in a zesty dressing.
# 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
# Directions:
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 let cool completely.
02 - Toss lamb strips with olive oil, ground cumin, coriander, salt, and black pepper in a bowl. Let marinate while the quinoa cooks to allow flavors to penetrate.
03 - Whisk together extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified and smooth.
04 - Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Sear lamb strips for 2–3 minutes per side until 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, pitted cherries, baby spinach or arugula, sliced red onion, crumbled feta, toasted nuts, fresh mint, and flat-leaf parsley.
06 - Add sliced lamb to the salad. Pour the dressing over the entire mixture and toss gently to coat evenly. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve immediately, garnished with additional herbs and nuts if desired.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The way juicy cherries burst against warm spiced lamb creates this incredible sweet and savory dance
- It looks impressive on the plate but comes together in under an hour
- You can make most components ahead and assemble when youre ready to eat
02 -
- Dont skip resting the lamb—those juices need to redistribute or youll end up with tough, dry meat
- The salad holds up better if you dress it right before serving, not hours in advance
- Warm quinoa absorbs dressing better than cold, so time your cooking accordingly
03 -
- Toasting your own nuts in a dry pan for 3 minutes makes an enormous difference in flavor
- If you have time, warm the dressing slightly before tossing—it helps the flavors meld instantly