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carrot cake quinoa in a bowl

Healthy Carrot Cake Quinoa Salad

Sara Walkenbach
All the tasty flavors and textures of carrot cake made into a quinoa salad, without the guilt.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 229 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Quinoa (uncooked) rinse several times in fine sieve
  • 1/2 cup Pineapple Juice from canned pineapple
  • 1/4 cup Orange Juice zest orange prior to cutting
  • 1 cup Carrots grated
  • 8 oz Pineapple (in juice) drained - reserve juice for cooking quinoa
  • 1/2 cup Golden Raisins soaked in warm water
  • 1/2 cup Pecans toasted & chopped
  • 1/2 cup Coconut shredded
  • 2 tbs Orange Zest

Dressing Ingredients

  • 2 tbs Vinegar good quality white wine or white balsamic
  • 1 tbs Orange Juice
  • 1-2 tbs Honey
  • 1 tbs Olive Oil Extra Virgin
  • 1 tbs Orange Zest
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1 tsp Fresh Ginger - grated (1/2 tsp ground)
  • 1/2 tsp Sea Salt

Instructions
 

  • Soak your raisins in warm water, set aside. Rinse Quinoa in fine mesh sieve. In a medium sauce pan, add quinoa, 1 cup of water, pineapple juice, orange juice, and a few pinches of salt. Put pan (uncovered) over medium/high heat until it is boiling. Reduce heat to low, and let simmer until all liquid is absorbed. Usually 15 minutes or so. Once liquid is pretty much absorbed, put a lid on it, take off heat, and let rest for 5 minutes.
  • While quinoa is cooking, make dressing. Whisk together all dressing ingredients. Set aside.
  • Once quinoa has rested for 5 minutes, fluff with a fork. Drain and discard the water off the raisins. Add in raisins, carrots, pineapple, coconut, pecans, and zest. Gently stir together.
  • Drizzle dressing over quinoa salad. Gently toss, and enjoy. Or stick it in the fridge for a cold side dish.

Video

Notes

Rinse quinoa several times before cooking to remove the bitter tasting saponin.
Soak Raisins in warm water for 15 minutes or longer. This plumps them up so they won’t take the moisture out of your salad. Discard water before adding to quinoa.
Zest Oranges before cutting in half.

Nutrition

Calories: 229kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 5gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 161mgPotassium: 364mgFiber: 4gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 2724IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 39mgIron: 2mg
Keyword carrot cake quinoa salad, healthy qunioa salad, qunioa
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