• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Blog Home
  • Contact Rae
  • faqs + fyis
  • SHOP ILY by, Rae

RAE ANN KELLY

  • life + family
  • style + outfits
  • menus + recipes
  • freebies + diy
  • kids + crafts
  • outings + travel

THE MOST AMAZING ARUGULA, QUINOA, AND PESTO SALAD OF YOUR DREAMS.

May 23, 2023menus + recipes
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

With the exception of my kids, this Arugula Quinoa Salad, might be my best creation. The individual flavors are good, but together they are magic. Fresh lemon, chopped arugula, and tasty pesto all balanced out by cooked quinoa, olive oil, and crunchy pepitas (pumpkin seeds). Add diced salami, chicken, or steak (yum), and you have a hearty side or full meal, as well as leftovers that still taste good the next day. All of which, makes this the MVP of salads (imo)… Just be sure to use a pesto that you love!

Leave a note in the comments (or @raeannkelly) if you try this recipe! It always makes my day!

SOURCES: LEMON SQUEEZER (a must), WORKING GLASSES, MARBLE CHEESE GRATER, GLASS PREP BOWLS, KITCHEN TOWEL, LATTE BOWL, PINK MELAMINE MIXING BOWL

PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE

THE LIFE CHANGING ARUGULA, QUINOA, AND PESTO SALAD RECIPE

This salad recipe makes it super easy to eat healthy and feel satisfied!

YOU’LL NEED:

  • 5 ounces arugula, chopped (I know it's tempting but do not sleep on the chopping!)
  • 2 cups cooked quinoa (about 2/3 cup uncooked)
  • 8 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds or pine nuts
  • 3 tablespoons pesto (or more to taste)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil (or more to taste)
  • 1 small lemon, juiced
  • shredded parmesan, to top
  • salt and pepper, to taste (optional)
  • salami, chicken, or meat of choice – cut to bite-sized pieces (optional)

HERE’S HOW:

  • Prep ingredients! In a small bowl or glass, whisk together pesto, olive oil, and lemon juice.
  • In a large bowl, combine arugula (or sub with spring mix), quinoa, tomatoes, meat of choice, and seeds/nuts.
  • Drizzle salad mix with pesto dressing, salt and pepper (if desired), and parmesan. Toss together and serve!

It’s so simple, but so full of flavor! I make it several times a month to bring to dinner at a friends, or for lunch, dinner and even breakfast with a fried egg on top.

Enjoy!

xx, Rae

Previous Post: « OOTD: 4 BLEACHER READY OUTFITS FOR SPRING AND SUMMER
Next Post: THE MONTHLY SPREAD: JUNE MEAL PLAN »

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. A SUMMER TO FALL OUTFIT FORMULA YOU CAN WEAR ON REPEAT - RAE ANN KELLY says:
    Aug 24, 2023 at

    […] POSTS YOU MIGHT LIKE: THESE OVERSIZED BUTTON DOWNS ARE ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA, THE MOST AMAZING ARUGULA, QUINOA, AND PESTO SALAD OF YOUR DREAMS, OOTD: 4 BLEACHER READY OUTFITS FOR SPRING AND […]

    Reply
  2. THE SEPTEMBER SPREAD (MEAL PLAN FOR THE MONTH) - RAE ANN KELLY says:
    Sep 04, 2023 at

    […] Arugula Quinoa Salad with Grilled Cheeses or Chicken […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

So happy you're here! I'm Rae, style enthusiast, amateur cook, graphic designer, firefighter wife, and mama of 5 (big) kids. We live in the PNW with our 12 chickens and dog, Waffles...

(READ MORE)

WARDROBE FAVES

HOME FAVORITES

WELLNESS FAVORITES

FUN POSTS

SWEET BITES: SIMPLE BERRY-LEMONADE SNOW CONE GRANITA RECIPE

Uncategorized

PARENTING HACK: EARLY RISER ACTIVITY BASKET

freebies + diy, kids + crafts, life + family

SIMPLIFYING CHRISTMAS + A PRETTY GREEN DRESS

life + family, style + outfits

PHOTOS + A VIDEO FROM THE REINDEER FARM IN LEAVENWORTH

fun videos, life + family, outings + travel, seattle + tacoma

TIMELESS + PLAYFUL IN ALL DENIM, STRIPES, + SNEAKERS

style + outfits

are we instagram official? you can find me @raeannkelly

A soup so good and hearty, it deserved two version A soup so good and hearty, it deserved two versions: CREAMY RUSTIC TORTELLINI SOUP (or sub farrow for tortellini) 🍜🤌🏼 the perfect cozy fall or winter dinner… comment below for the recipe!
Classic vest 2 ways 🖤 which is your favorite? Classic vest 2 ways 🖤 which is your favorite? 

Leave a comment for more details! Xx, Rae
NA APPLE PIE MOSOW MULES 🍎🥧aka, what we’ll NA APPLE PIE MOSOW MULES 🍎🥧aka, what we’ll be sipping on all month! 

Comment for the recipe or use link in bio!
OCTOBER L👀KS 🤎 no. 6 might be my favorite. H OCTOBER L👀KS 🤎 no. 6 might be my favorite. HBU? 

Comment if you want links!
5 things I 🫶🏽 about my skincare routine: 1. 5 things I 🫶🏽 about my skincare routine:

1. It’s simple, toxin free, and effective.
2. The price is similar to what you’d spend at target but the ingredients are clean and brand is cute and accessible 🤗.
3. The formulas are multitaskers so you don’t need a million steps - a cleanser to clean and calm, toner to tighten, brighten, and balance, and a serum to heal, hydrate, and protect your skin! (Bonus: all of them have anti-aging properties)
4. They’re gentle enough to share with the fam… The glow serum has worked wonders on Poppy’s scars from her scooter accident a month and a half ago! 
5. A clean and glowing face is really the best way to start or wind down from the day. 

Leave a comment for details and links! 🖤
SIMPLE SWEET POTATO KALE SALAD ✨ The perfect sal SIMPLE SWEET POTATO KALE SALAD ✨
The perfect salad to serve as a side or bring to a get-together, during the fall and winter months!!!

Scroll for recipe or use link in bio! 

YOU’LL NEED:
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch chunks
olive oil, to taste
2 tablespoons corn starch
S&P, to taste
1 bunch kale, stemmed
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 red onion, finely diced
1 lemon, juiced
1/2 cup parmesan, shredded
option: add meat or protein of choice to make it a meal!

HERE’S HOW:
Preheat oven to 425. Toss diced sweet potatoes in olive oil, corn starch, and salt. Spread sweet potatoes out on a rimmed backing dish in a single layer (the more space they have, the crispier they’ll get). Bake in oven, flipping potatoes every 15 minutes until cooked through and crispy on the edges.
While sweet potatoes cook, prep kale and red onion. In a small bowl or jar with lid, pour 1/4 cup (or less or more to taste), lemon juice, and salt and pepper. Whisk or shake together.
In a large bowl, add kale, sweet potatoes, onions, pumpkin seeds, and parmesan. Toss together with your olive oil dressing and enjoy!

Copyright © 2023 ⸱ RAE ANN KELLY ⸱ Design by Love & Riot

Copyright © 2023 · Dainty on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in