• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Easter Treats
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Ebooks
  • Subscribe

Through The Fibro Fog

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Easter Treats
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Ebooks
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Easter Treats
    • Recipes
    • About Me
    • Ebooks
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Published: Jan 30, 2019 · Modified: Nov 30, 2022 by Claire · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases · Leave a Comment

    Apple Quinoa Salad

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This apple quinoa salad is a fun and healthy lunch or light dinner recipe, and packed with nutritious ingredients. A very quick and simple salad, it's vegan, gluten free and low histamine and comes together in less than 30 minutes!

    blueberry quinoa salad on a brown plate with a wooden plate of pumpkin seeds next to it.

    Love quinoa salads as much as my family does? Perhaps you may like to see my turmeric cauliflower salad with quinoa and my quinoa and fennel salad, which feels especially perfect in the fall months.

    This apple blueberry salad is fresh and light, mixing sweet fruit with protein-packed quinoa to make it a bit heartier. Lovely as a lunch salad on its own, or as a side in smaller portions for picnics or summer BBQs.

    This recipe was updated on 14 February 2022 with an amended recipe, tips and photos.

    Jump to:
    • ⭐ Why you'll love this recipe
    • 🍎 Ingredients
    • 📖 Recipe variations
    • 🔪 Step by step instructions
    • 💭 Recipe tips and notes
    • 📋 Frequently asked questions
    • 🥗 More salad recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    ⭐ Why you'll love this recipe

    • Fresh and light - the combination of quinoa, fruit, nuts and seeds feels light and is perfect for an easy vegan lunch.
    • Protein packed - with the plant-based protein of quinoa, nuts, seeds and the tahini dressing, this has a variety of vegan protein sources.
    • Quick and simple to make - this quinoa salad requires very little 'hands on' time and comes together in less than half an hour.

    🍎 Ingredients

    quinoa, coriander, apples, blueberries, tahini, nuts and seeds.

    This vegan apple quinoa salad comprises fresh produce and pantry staples. You will need:

    • Quinoa - the main ingredient, and source of plant-based protein. You can use a white quinoa, as in these photos, or a quinoa blend.
    • Apples and blueberries - the sweet fruit of the salad.
    • Pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds and pistachios - give such a good crunch, as well as flavour.
    • Coriander / cilantro - for lots of flavour. See below for variations if you aren't a fan!
    • Extra virgin olive oil - I suggest using extra virgin olive oil rather than regular olive oil for better flavour and health benefits.
    • Tahini - for the dressing.
    • Salt - to season.

    📖 Recipe variations

    Swap fruit in and out to preference. You may like to include pears, or other berries. For my low histamine readers, you may wish to avoid strawberries.

    A herb-based dressing such as the basil dressing in my asparagus salad can be used in place of tahini.

    Swap out coriander for another herb such as parsley if you prefer.

    🔪 Step by step instructions

    Making this apple quinoa salad is very easy, with just a few steps and a little prep time.

    quinoa in a pan
    tahini dressing
    chopped apples, blueberries, herbs and nuts.

    Step 1

    Cook the quinoa according to packet instructions, and then set aside to cool.

    Step 2

    Make the tahini dressing by combining tahini and water, and stirring until it becomes a sauce-like consistency.

    Step 3

    Combine the diced fruit, nuts, seeds, quinoa and herbs in a bowl. Drizzle over the dressing and then stir well to combine. Season with salt, as required.

    💭 Recipe tips and notes

    • Ensure the quinoa is fully cooked, and then set aside. I place in a fine mesh sieve over a bowl so that any excess water can drain off.
    • You can use white quinoa or a quinoa blend.
    • Adjust the dressing with more tahini or water to get the consistency you prefer.
    • Swap out coriander for another herb, such as parsley if you prefer.

    📋 Frequently asked questions

    How do you know when quinoa is cooked?

    The seeds will open up so you can see their 'tails' when they are cooked through.

    Is this apple quinoa salad gluten free?

    Yes, quinoa is gluten free, as are the other ingredients in this recipe.

    Can I make this a nut free salad?

    Simply swap out the nuts for more seeds if you prefer!

    blueberry quinoa salad on a brown plate with apples in the background.

    🥗 More salad recipes

    Find lots of salad recipes here on the site, including my refreshing cucumber beetroot salad and these recent recipes to try out:

    • romaine lettuce halves on a white plate on a blue cloth.
      Air Fryer Romaine Lettuce
    • pesto orzo salad on a white plate next to red apples and a cream striped cloth.
      Pesto Orzo Salad
    • mango cucumber salad in a white bowl next to fresh cilantro leaves.
      Mango Cucumber Salad
    • cucumber beetroot salad on a white plate with a silver spoon next to a bowl of pumpkin seeds.
      Cucumber Beetroot Salad

    I’m always in the kitchen, so come join me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to be the first to hear of new recipes. And please do leave a star rating ⭐ if you tried the recipe!

    📖 Recipe

    blueberry quinoa salad on a brown plate.

    Apple Quinoa Salad

    Claire
    A tasty lunch or light dinner, this apple quinoa salad is packed with healthy ingredients and plant-based protein. Serves one generously, or two as a side salad.
    5 from 3 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Lunch, Main Dish
    Cuisine American, British
    Servings 2 servings
    Calories 334 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ¼ cup quinoa dry weight
    • 1 apple diced
    • handful blueberries halved
    • 2 tablespoon pumpkin seeds
    • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds optional
    • 2 tablespoon pistachios
    • 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon tahini
    • 3 tablespoon water
    • pinch salt
    • pinch black pepper optional

    Instructions
     

    • Cook the quinoa according to packet instructions.
    • Make the tahini dressing by combining the tahini with water and stirring until it forms a sauce. Adjust the amount of tahini and water to get the consistency you prefer.
    • Once cooled, combine the quinoa with the other ingredients. Drizzle over the tahini dressing.

    Notes

    • Allow the quinoa to drain of any excess water by setting aside in a fine mesh sieve over a bowl after cooking.
    • Adjust the consistency of the dressing by adding more tahini or water to preference. More tahini will thicken the dressing, and more water will thin.
     
    Swiss Interest Group Histamine Intolerance (SIGHI) food compatibility list for histamine
    All ingredients score 0 on the SIGHI list, with the exception of:
    • tahini (sesame), which scores 1. Please note that it is a potential allergen.
    • black pepper, which scores 2.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 334kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 11gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.01gSodium: 7mgPotassium: 486mgFiber: 6gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 97IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 57mgIron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @lowhistaminekitchen or tag #lowhistaminekitchen!
    Tweet
    Share
    Pin
    Share

    More Easy & Flavourful Salads

    • tahini kale salad in a white bowl next to red apples and a glass jar of pumpkin seeds.
      Tahini Kale Salad
    • pak choi salad on a grey plate with a brown rim on a blue striped cloth.
      Pak Choi Salad
    • roasted beetroot broccoli salad on a white plate next to beets and a beige striped cloth.
      Beetroot Broccoli Salad
    • kale apple slaw in a light brown bowl next to red apples and salad servers.
      Kale Apple Slaw

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I’m Claire. After a diagnosis of MCAS I began to follow a low histamine diet, which has helped me manage my symptoms. Here I hope to show that a restrictive diet can still be full of flavourful meals, and help you enjoy being creative in the kitchen.

    More about me →

    Easter Treats

    • cardamom apple fritters on a wooden board.
      Cardamom Apple Fritters
    • honey spelt cookies on a wire rack.
      Honey Spelt Cookies
    • maple syrup flapjacks on parchment paper on a wire rack.
      Maple Syrup Flapjacks
    • cardamom oatmeal cookies
      Cardamom Oatmeal Cookies
    • blackberry oatmeal cookies next to a bowl of blackberries.
      Blackberry Oatmeal Cookies
    • oatmeal bliss balls on a wooden board.
      Oatmeal Bliss Balls

    Featured On

    company names including Parade, Feed Feed, yahoo, finding vegan and food gawker.

    Popular Recipes

    • creamy paprika chicken in a light grey skillet.
      Creamy Paprika Chicken
    • beetroot butternut squash salad in a cream bowl.
      Butternut and Beetroot Salad
    • pesto ricotta pasta in a light grey bowl on a beige cloth with a for on it next to a glass jar of pesto.
      Ricotta Pesto Pasta
    • cooked frozen cauliflower rice garnished with parsley in a cream bowl on a blue cloth.
      How to Cook Frozen Cauliflower Rice

    As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Please see my disclaimer. I am not a doctor or healthcare professional. All posts are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice in any way.

    veda ambassador logo.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Disclaimer
    • Accessibility
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact Me

    Copyright © 2023 Through The Fibro Fog