Quinoa Salad with Roasted Carrot Fries and Smoked Paprika

This Quinoa salad with Roasted Carrots and Smoked Paprika powder tastes amazing any time of the year, no matter how cold or hot it may be. Take it to a summer picnic or barbecue, serve it as a side dish during the holidays, or enjoy it as a light lunch.

Quinoa Salad with Roasted Carrot Fries and Smoked Paprika [Vegan]

Ingredients

Quinoa salad with roasted carrot fries:

• 4 medium carrots + coconut oil, sea salt & herbs (ras el hanout, cumin, smoked paprika)
• 2 cups of cooked quinoa or amaranth
• 4 handfuls of mesclun (or baby spinach, romaine...)
• 1 small handful of raisins
• Almond flakes, raw or slightly toasted

Smoked Paprika vinaigrette:

• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup (optional - or Stevia / xylitol to taste)
• 1/2 tablespoon mustard
• 1 + 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika powder
• Sea salt and cayenne pepper, to taste (this recipe used 1/2 teaspoon)

Preparation

Quinoa salad with roasted carrot fries:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Cut the carrots into 'fries'.
3. Put them on a baking tray, drizzle with coconut oil and season with sea salt & herbs. This recipe used ras el hanout (a North African spice mix), cumin and smoked paprika.
4. Place in the oven for 15 minutes or longer, until the carrot fries are al dente. Allow them to cool for a few minutes.
5. Mix the roasted carrot with the cooked quinoa or amaranth. Add the mesclun or other leafy green.
6. Finish with raisins and almond flakes.

Smoked Paprika vinaigrette:

1. Combine the olive oil, the lemon juice, the maple syrup, the mustard, the smoked paprika, the sea salt and the cayenne pepper in a glass jar. Close the jar well and shake to a smooth vinaigrette.
2. Serve with the quinoa salad.

Notes

This quinoa salad with roasted carrot fries stays air-tight for at least 3 days fresh in the refrigerator. You can keep the smoked paprika savory for at least 10 days. Try these roasted carrots with other herbs such as garam masala, curry, Italian herbs or simply sea salt, black pepper and turmeric powder.

https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/quinoa-salad-roasted-carrot-fries-smoked-paprika-vegan/