Fruit & Quinoa Salad with Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing

I love a big bowl of fruit as much as the next person, but sometimes it just doesn’t have the staying power that I would like to fill me up for a mid-afternoon snack or light lunch. This Fruit & Quinoa Salad with Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing, however, does just that and adds a bright citrus flavor with this homemade Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing, which is lighter than your traditional poppy seed dressing. It is perfect for a side dish or salad but is hearty enough to stand on it’s own as an easy lunch you can pack for work.

This salad is the perfect bowl of summer with fresh fruit and a bright citrus dressing. Sadly, it seem like summer is starting to slip away though. I just went back to my regular work hours M-F and no longer get my three day weekends as part of my “summer hours”. The trade-off is that I no longer have to work 10 hours days and get to go back to the standard 8 hour days. So while my days fly by now, the week is dragging on. If only I could work four 8 hour days. 😉

In the grand scheme of things, I am alright with summer leaving and fall arriving. I absolutely adore crisp fall days, warm sweaters, apple cider and most importantly football! I get my husband a pair of tickets to a Vikings game each year for his birthday, and while he likes the gift, it is a completely selfish gift on my part. I think I might love going even more than him!

Normally we shoot for a game in December to ensure he won’t be working in the field, but this year our team is playing in an outdoor stadium while their new stadium is built. So I locked in a nice mid-October game, and while there is definitely the possibility of snow in October here in Minnesota, most likely it will be beautiful day. At least that is what I keep telling myself!

So be sure to enjoy all the fresh fruit and flavors of summer before they are gone all too soon!

Fruit & Quinoa Salad with Citrus Poppy Seed Dressing

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Fresh fruit tossed with a bright citrus poppy seed dressing and quinoa for added protein and fiber to make a filling and delicious salad.

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Ingredients

• 1/2 c. quinoa uncooked
• 1 c. water
• 1 c. strawberries quartered
• 1/2 c. blueberries
• 1 c. mangos diced
• 1/2 c. raspberries or kiwi
• 1/2 c. citrus poppy seed dressing

Instructions

1. In a small saucepan, add quinoa and water and cook on high. Once it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low and cover. Let cook for 10-13 minutes. Quinoa is done cooking when you see the tiny spirals curling around the grains. Remove from the heat and let cool.
2. Once the quinoa is cooled, toss it with the fruit and citrus poppy seed dressing. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 4 Servings
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 279Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 313mgCarbohydrates: 38gFiber: 5gSugar: 20gProtein: 4g

Provided nutrition data is only an estimate. If you are tracking these nutrients for medical purposes, please consult an outside, trusted source.

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