Lunch: Quinoa Salad with Baked Goat Cheese Rounds

Enjoy a healthy, hearty meal-in-a-bowl with a recipe for quinoa salad tossed in a tangy Dijon dressing and topped with baked goat cheese rounds.

Ingredients

1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
1 (4-ounce) herb-flavored goat cheese log
1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 1/2 cups mixed salad greens
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1/3 cup dried cherries

Instructions

Make the salad: Preheat the oven to 375 ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, combine the quinoa with 1 cup water. Bring the quinoa to a boil, cover it, then reduce it to a simmer. Cook, covered, for about 12 minutes until the hull is visible. Fluff the quinoa with a fork and set it aside to cool slightly.
Slice the goat cheese log into eight rounds.
Add the olive oil to a medium sauté pan over medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs to the pan and toast, stirring, until golden. Remove the breadcrumbs to a shallow pan.
Once the breadcrumbs have cooled slightly, press the goat cheese rounds into the breadcrumbs, coating them on all sides. Place the breaded goat cheese rounds on the prepared baking sheet. Bake the goat cheese rounds until softened slightly, 4 to 6 minutes. While the goat cheese is baking, make the salad dressing.

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