This steak and quinoa salad is packed with sweet and spicy flavors – from the red pepper jelly dressing to the goat cheese on top.
Steak and Quinoa Salad
My friend Jessica came up with this dressing idea, and we turned it into a delicious healthy salad.
I’ve been loving quinoa salads lately – perfect for lunch, dinner and on-the-go meals. Leave the steak off of this recipe for a lighter vegetarian dish, or swap it out for chicken, fish, shrimp, salmon, beans, tofu – the list goes on. Strawberries and goat cheese add layers of flavor, and the red pepper jelly dressing gives it the ultimate sweet-savory-spicy flavor. We used a local homemade red pepper jelly for the dressing. You could easily buy one or make your own.
Start with a big pot of cooked quinoa for the salad base.
I like red quinoa better than the original – I think the flavor is better. Nuttier maybe? Rice cooker for the win! Always.
Chop up your strawberries (or sub in chopped apples for a fall-inspired dish!)
How to make the dressing
To make the dressing, combine 3 tbsp red pepper jelly, 1 tbsp dijon mustard, 3 tbsp cider vinegar, 1/3 cup olive oil and a pinch Kosher salt in a jar and shake.
Other salad ingredients
And toss with the quinoa, strawberries, crumbled goat cheese and spinach.
Cook your protein as desired – I seared the steak in a pan – medium rare.
Pour the salad into a bowl and top with more goat cheese and layers of steak –
Quinoa Salad with Red Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked quinoa
- 2 handfuls fresh spinach
- 2 cups sliced strawberries
- 4 oz container crumbled goat cheese
- 1/2 pound flank steak
- For the dressing
- 3 tbsp red pepper jelly
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 3 tbsp cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- pinch Kosher salt
Instructions
- Pan sear flank steak to desired doneness.
- Cook quinoa in rice cooker according to package, allow to cool slightly before adding other ingredients.
- Slice strawberries and add to quinoa with two handfuls of fresh spinach.
- Add goat cheese.
- Mix dressing in a jar and pour over salad.
- Stir to combine.
- Add steak on top!
Quinoa Salad with Red Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked quinoa
- 2 handfuls fresh spinach
- 2 cups sliced strawberries
- 4 oz container crumbled goat cheese
- 1/2 pound flank steak
- For the dressing
- 3 tbsp red pepper jelly
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 3 tbsp cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- pinch Kosher salt
Instructions
- Pan sear flank steak to desired doneness.
- Cook quinoa in rice cooker according to package, allow to cool slightly before adding other ingredients.
- Slice strawberries and add to quinoa with two handfuls of fresh spinach.
- Add goat cheese.
- Mix dressing in a jar and pour over salad.
- Stir to combine.
- Add steak on top!
Bethany @ Athletic Avocaod says
This looks so yummy and perfect for dinner or lunch! Ill have to try it with red quinoa!
Amanda says
I’m just starting to get into quinoa (which is nuts, since I’m in the health/fitness field)- I’ll definitely give this a try. Thanks for sharing!
Carly says
I am confused. It says 1/3 cup of olives in two places but I don’t see any olives in your recipe? What kind of olives did you use? Thanks! I love quinoa too and this recipe looks great!!
KathEats says
I don’t think I mentioned olives? Can you point to where?
Adrienne says
You said “olive” instead of olive oil for the dressing.
KathEats says
Got it! Fixed! Thanks!
Anna says
In the ingredient list for the dressing, it says 1/3 cup olive. I think it should say olive oil?
Also 2 handfuls of spinach seems like enough for 1 person, not 6-8 people?
KathEats says
2 big handfuls – and it’s not the base. The quinoa is.
Sagan says
That sounds so good! We just made some hot pepper jelly this summer and canned a few jars of it so I MUST use it to try this recipe 🙂 This combination of flavors sounds amazing. Bet it would be great with some arugula, or with feta instead of goat cheese, too.
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
MMM Using red pepper jelly for a dressing is genius. Sounds so delicious!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
Pepper jelly vinaigrette?! Looks and sounds so yum!
cory says
Is this supposed to be a main dish salad? I’m thinking it is because of the flank steak, but isn’t one ounce of meat per person a bit on the lean side? I know the quinoa is a protein too but I’m just wondering if that’s enough meat to go around. Love the red pepper jelly too. I put it on an embarrassing number of foods.
Deb says
How do you cook the quinoa in the rice cooker? Mine does not have instructions for that. Thanks so much
KathEats says
I do 2:1 water to quinoa and set it to Quick Cook
lynn @ the actor's diet says
Red Pepper Jelly is my jam! I mean, jelly.
KathEats says
Haha!
Betsy says
Made this for dinner last night, and it was delicious!