Some of my fondest most vivid memories have delicious food attached to them. Yours, too?
Take this Quinoa and Spinach Salad with Spicy Pickled Onions and Ricotta Salata Vinaigrette, for example. The pickled onions, designed to create a perfect brine-y bite, will forever remind me of our favorite town of Lake Placid.
My new-found love for pickled onions was born on an unseasonably cool Lake Placid evening when suppertime called for not only pleasing food, but comfy duds, a cozy room, fuzzy slippers and “Something’s Gotta Give”. I don’t know what it is about that movie, but 7 out of 10 times, when we’re in the mood for a romantic comedy – that’s the picture we go with. We love Jack and Diane, I mean, Harry and Erica… Anyway, it was probably around seven-thirty-eight-o’clock when we were feeling strong pangs of hunger. The kind that result from a full day spent outdoors in the fresh mountain air. And rather than getting dolled up in an outfit that does not include stretchy pants and an extra large sweatshirt but one that has buttons and zippers and clasps – we decided to call in our dinner order, throw on our sweats, and call it a day.
Enter Lisa G’s along with my most favorite chicken wings and a gorgeous salad.
Oh man, can I just say – it’s incredible the amount of flavor that just a few pickled onion rounds adds to a dish. Not to mention their stunning color.
Lisa dresses this salad with a feta vinaigrette, however, I had a small wedge of ricotta salata in the fridge so I used that. These two cheeses are happily interchangeable.
And, when’s the last time you added quinoa to your salad? Not only does this protein-rich grain add immense health benefits to our already nutritious dish, but it’s a friend to those who eat a gluten-free diet.
Other ways to include quinoa in your diet:
- Use in place of oatmeal for your favorite morning meal
- Stir into chili
- Use it in your stuffings
- Add to a burger
- Round out your fruit smoothie
- And my personal favorite, fold it into your fritters
Indeed, a super grain!
We love being out and about but as the weather cools and the damp leaves accumulate, it’s nice to know that great restaurants offer take-out and we can settle in for the evening.
It’s also nice to know that the grocery store just around the bend has everything we need should we decide to make it ourselves.
Hope you do, too!
Buon Appetito!
Print
Quinoa and Spinach Salad with Spicy Pickled Onions and Ricotta Salata Vinaigrette
- Category: Salad
Ingredients
- Dressing
- 1 cup olive oil
- 2 Tbsp. dried oregano
- 1 Tbsp. minced garlic
- 1/2 cup crumbled ricotta salata
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Salad
- 6 – 8 oz. baby spinach
- 2 cups grape tomatoes
- 1 large cucumber, sliced (2 cups)
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives
- 2 cups cooked Quinoa
- Pickled onions
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, stir to combine first five ingredients.
- Taste and season with pepper.
- Mix spinach, grape tomatoes, cucumber, Kalamata olives, quinoa and pickled onions.
- Dress with ricotta salata vinaigrette; season with salt and pepper.
Wishing you a lovely weekend, my friends!
CIAO!
i love that movie almost as much as i love those pickled onions. i could never flick past it and it’s second only to “up close and personal” for my on the couch, in my sweats, go-to heart warmer. and as for this salad, i love the added oomph from the quinoa and that salty ricotta salata in the dressing!
Wow – I haven’t seen ‘Up Close and Personal’ in years! Need to find that one! It’s incredible the difference pickled onions make in a dish! Thanks, friend!
I can completely relate to those strong pangs of hunger brought on by fresh mountain air! I always come home from a day in the mountains ready to eat the fridge, or this gorgeous salad if you’re delivering this weekend… just kidding but I guess I’ll just have to make my own!
Awh! I would love to deliver this to you(!) as long as you promise to take me on one of your gorgeous hikes!! 🙂 Thank you, Kari!!
I have yet to try the pickled onions and this salad looks perfect! Pinning to make it soon!
Thanks, Mira!!
Now this is my kind of salad! I love combining spinach and quinoa, and with your pickled onions and ricotta, I can only imagine how delicious this must taste. Such a perfect lunch for a Monday, Annie!
This salad definitely doesn’t suffer from lack of flavor! So many good things going on, here!! Thanks, Gayle!
Can you believe I’ve never had a pickled onion? This salad looks so tasty and healthy….perfect for a cozy day or evening! I need to find some pickled onions 🙂
Oh my! I think you’d love them! Here’s the very simple recipe: https://www.ciaochowbambina.com/spicy-pickled-red-onions/ … Enjoy!!
That’s one of my favorite movies. I am loving the dressing on this. It looks so delicious! Hope you get to wear your fuzzy slippers lots this weekend.
Hahha! As a matter of fact – I have been able to wear my fuzzy slippers this weekend! The best!! Thank you, Karen!! 🙂
I love that movie so much!! This salad is beautiful and the dressing is everything!! Have a wonderful weekend! Take care!
Haha! The dressing is everything! Have a lovely weekend, my friend! 🙂
This is my kind of salad – it looks so colorful and delicious, Annie! Loving the pickled onions. Yum!
Thanks, Rachel! Have a great weekend, my friend!
Oh I LOVE “Something’s Gotta Give”!!! Such a classic if you ask me! And I LOOOOOVE this salad! I add quinoa to my salads pretty often because it’s such an easy way to give it a little pizzazz (and substance), so this quinoa and spinach salad is looking mighty fine to me! Love those pickled red onions in here and that ricotta salata vinaigrette sounds AMAZING! I could probably drink that stuff! 😉 Totally making this for lunch one day next week!! YUM! Pinned! Cheers, my dear! xo
And who doesn’t need a little pizzazz in their salad? I know I do!! So happy you love it! I do too, and I think you’ll be very pleased with the dressing! Have a great weekend, lovely! Cheers! xo
Your photos lately on IG have been so beautiful. Need to head East I think! When I read the recipe title I was instantly drawn to the ricotta salata dressing. Need to make this one this weekend. Yum!
Awhh! Thank you, Kevin! That means a lot to me! I am with you on the dressing! It’s one of my favorites! Have a beautiful weekend, my friend! 🙂
Ever since we were stuck with Hurricane Matthew with no fresh veggies, veggies are all I crave. Once we’re home I swear I’m making those pickled onions. The salad with quinoa is perfect for a light dinner. Have a great weekend.
Oh – I bet! I would feel the same way! Enjoy the salad, my dear! Thank you!!
This salad has everything I dream in a salad. Spicy pickled onions, spinach, quinoa and ricotta. They all together in a single platter sounds like the best combo ever. Can’t wait to try this. Wish you a lovely weekend. 🙂
It’s pretty spectacular as salad’s go! Thanks, my friend!! 🙂
Here it started to snow again, so a big yes to romantic, cozy, succulent meals at home accompanied by a good classic movie. This salad looks beautiful and so delicious!
I saw that it snowed there. Doesn’t the first snowfall make everything beautiful! Thank you, Nicoletta! 🙂
Where do you live? I’m so glad we haven’t yet had snow where I live!
I know! We haven’t had it either but I know it’s comin’!! 🙂
Oh Annie!! I love that movie!!! so funny and romantic! your salad looks great! I love it! sounds like quite a night! Have a great weekend!
It’s definitely a favorite of many people! The movie that is! hahah! This salad’s a keeper, too! Thanks, friend! 🙂
I LOVE Something’s Gotta Give – I could watch it over and over – Diane Keaton is so good. And I love this salad too, Annie – I could eat this everyday! Have a great weekend.
This is a Green Valley Kitchen salad!! Thanks, my friend! This is a yummy one!
I LOVE that movie!! I’ve watched it numerous times and it never gets old! Love this salad Annie! Those pickled onions! And some quinoa? Count me in. It sounds nice and hearty and full of flavor. Happy weekend my friend!
Right?! It never gets old! We have a few ‘classics’ that we consistently turn to – but SGG always leads the pack! I can’t believe what a difference these onions make! And quinoa continues to make its way into our meals… I love it! Thank you, my friend! Have a great weekend! 🙂
I say a big ‘YES’ to staying in with leggings and an oversized shirt (and funny socks, of course). I do love going out at times, but the draw of comfort in our own home in comfy clothes usually always wins, especially if it is cooler outside. How can you beat that? Matter of fact, we have an anniversary coming up and plan on going out and now we’re wondering if we should stay in and make a nice night at home…have to see how the weather goes, I guess 🙂
Love this salad, Annie! Great way to use your picked onions and everything looks so fresh and tasty. That dressing sounds unreal too!! Hope you have a wonderful weekend and lots of good food and relaxation! xoxo
Oh yes! Funny socks are a must! It’s easy to choose staying in when we’re out and about all day… A lovely dinner on the town is always a treat – but I love my cozy meals at home, too. Happy Anniversary, my friend! I’m sure whatever you decide to do, it will be wonderful! Have a great weekend, lovely! xoxo