French Fridays with Dorie: Quinoa, fruit and nut salad

I was pretty excited to see this Quinoa, Fruit and Nut salad (p138) on the list of recipes for French Fridays with Dorie because it totally reminds me of when I lived in Paris.  Not only did I first discover quinoa there, but this type of salad is exactly what I ate for dinner many, many nights when I got home from work around 8pm.  Oh, it’s not as bad as it sounds – I was working the classic “35 heures” a week but because I was teaching in an extra-curricular program, the classes started at 5 and didn’t end until 7, meaning I got home too late to eat a huge meal. Often I would just snack on cheese and wine but sometimes I would pick up a salad from a “traiteur” (like a high end deli with prepared foods) – and often, they would involve quinoa. So this was a nostalgic dish for me.

Dorie says the recipe serves 4 but we got at least 6 serves out of this – 4 main courses and 2 side dishes – which was perfect during a busy (and tiring!) first week back at work. A great dish to make a big old pot of to ensure you have a healthy side dish throughout the week.   Filled with dried fruit and nuts and lightly dressed with a little lemon, mint and olive oil dressing, this was light and flavourful but filling (without weighing you down).

It’s very versatile and you can pick and choose the add-ins and even switch up the dressing if you like. It can be served warm or cold, on greens, as a side or a main. Plain or topped with a dollop of plain yoghurt or sour cream.  Pretty, tasty and easy. Thanks Dorie!

Want to join French Fridays with Dorie? Join here.

French Fridays with Dorie participants do not publish the recipes on our blogs, rather, we prefer if you purchase Around My French Table for yourselves (trust me, you definitely want this book!) which you can do here on Amazon or Amazon Canada.  Go on, treat yourself – join us in 2011!  There are some GREAT recipes coming up in April!

** Don’t forget to check out next month’s “Forever Nigella” event – I’m hosting a street party in honour of the Royal Wedding and would love for you to join me. All the details here.

84 thoughts on “French Fridays with Dorie: Quinoa, fruit and nut salad”

  1. I agree this was a fantastic light dinner! Love how the the colors of the fruit and pistachios pop out of the quinoa.

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  2. I’ve been on the fence about quinoa: I love it in theory but not in life, so maybe the photos will push me over to the other side. I should try the recipe because it does sound good. With couscous I’d be sold, but I never seem to cook quinoa enough, or something. Could quinoa be my macaron? (Go ahead, laugh at me… )

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  3. OMG I love this recipe even more now that I know it reminds you of your time in Paris! If I wasn’t going for Perogie Night at the Ukrainian Hall tonight I’d be all over making it tonight! Love, love, love!

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  4. I’m on the fence with KABLOOEY – might become my favorite statement of the day! – because I haven’t had a quinoa dish I like yet. Love couscous too but they are so not similar. Your photos are tempting though…

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  5. I was surprised that this salad was so filling … I was full and satisfied! Great salad.
    That bowl up there looks delicious!

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  6. I love the Arugula that you used, probably added just that hint of spice for the dish. I love all the variations everybody seems to be doing…red Quinoa, plumping the fruit with water before mixing, etc. I’m getting ready to make this for lunch and am looking so forward to it. I love Quinoa!

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  7. Ahem. There’s no photo of the best meal adaptation from this…as a salas with greens AND our home-made smoked salmon. YUM!

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  8. Quinoa gives me hope that there’s alway something new in this world…i mean to think a superfood i only found out about a year or so ago…what will arrive on the food scene next?

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  9. So lovely. I really enjoyed your photos as well as your memories of late meals in Paris. One of the best parts of FF’s is to get this little glimpse into Parisian life while we all plan (with fingers crossed 🙂 to get back there as soon as we can. I also agreed about how great fixing a big batch of this versatile dish is. I am planning to be using it for some brown bag creations myself. Nana did not enjoy it quite as much, but still enjoys the adventure each week 🙂

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  10. Your salad looks lovely! Wonderful photos! We really enjoyed this salad and you’re so right….very filling but not heavy! Glad you enjoyed it, too!

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  11. Congrats on getting your photo on TasteSpotting. I’m behind as usual on my cooking so I think this will be breakfast tomorrow morning. Your photo convinced me that it will work. And I found an usual herb plant today called orange mint which sealed the deal for me.

    Love your story about Paris. Hoping this quinoa recipe will make me a convert!

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  12. Great photographs of the variations Mardi! I’ll bet you are delighted to finish your first week back. Hope you enjoy a restful weekend!

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  13. Looks great. The photos are super!
    Would you believe me if I told you that I (embarrassed) got Around My French Table in December, but I too busy to do anything more than just skim through it! Clearly, I need to crack open that sucker 🙂

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  14. Love the fruits and nuts in this quinoa salad and that it’s so uncomplicated. Looks delicious – beautiful photos! Congrats on getting on TasteSpotting!

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  15. Mardi, this is the kind of twist on salad that I could sink my teeth in. I love the combination of fruits with quinoa and I’m anxious to give this a shot. So good!

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  16. I just recently got into quinoa and this recipe is right up my alley. You’re making me want to go out and buy that book. Also, kudos for the beautiful photos – I guess what they say is true: you eat with your eyes first, because those photos made me hungry!

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  17. Your completed dish looks so pretty and mouthwatering Mardi! I’m so jealous that you can return to Paris in your mind with this dish. I’ll have to live vicariously through you with these recipes and your recollections. Very pretty post.

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  18. Great photos! I agree with you, this recipe has so many possibilities. It’s more of a jumping off point than a fixed formula. I know this will make a lot of appearances at my house this summer.

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  19. I love when food takes us back to the past:) It’s the best time-travel machine! I can envision the Paris nights with wine, cheese, and maybe this salad. Heaven!
    I can’t believe you “made” the salad pose three times:) The photos are gorgeous:)

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  20. Hi Mardi: You’ve inspired me to start using more quinoa. Beautiful, vibrant and fresh looking dish. Just lovely (& fantastic photography)! Congrats on a well deserved Top 9!

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  21. good looking, healthy and versatile! perfect. love the idea of making a big pot and having it there for the week. nice. cheers kari

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  22. I love your blog! I, too, love to eat, travel and write. Oh, and walk the Doberhound 🙂 Love Dorie’s cookbook- I got it for Christmas and I need to cook more things from it! I love the simplicity and “Frenchness” of all her recipes! I soooo envy your career as a French teacher– if I could do it all over again, that’s what I’d do! Maybe I’ll do it someday 🙂 This quinoa looks great, and eating it with dried fruit is my favorite way.

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  23. Mardi…that last shot is AMAZING! Totally beautiful. Thanks for sharing your French memories…so nice to get a glimpse of your former life. PS…watched your video entry…very nicely done. Good luck!!

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  24. I loved this recipe too!! You pictures are so beautiful:-) I love hearing about your time in France, sounds so amazing! I really can not wait to go someday, my one dream:-)
    Take care,
    Terra

    Reply

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