Roasted Carrot, Quinoa & Orange Grain Salad
Tender baby carrots roasted with warming cumin and coriander, tossed with microwaveable wholegrain basmati and quinoa, then dressed in a bright orange and Dijon vinaigrette. Finished with fresh chilli, coriander, and crumbled feta for a warm grain salad that balances earthy spices with citrus brightness.
Ingredients
- 1 lb baby carrots raw, trimmed, scrubbed and halved
- 2 teaspoon ground cumin, level
- 1 teaspoon dried coriander
- 4 spray calorie controlled cooking spray
- 2 pouch wholegrain basmati rice and quinoa microwaveable, prepared as instructed
- 1 orange zest, from 1 orange
- 2 serving freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, heaped
- 1 chilli green or red, finely sliced
- 1 tablespoon fresh coriander leaves, picked
- ½ cups light feta cheese, crumbledgoat cheese1:1
3
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 400°F fan or 350°F.
- 2
Spread carrots on a large baking tray, sprinkle with ground cumin and coriander, season well, and lightly mist with cooking spray.
- 3
Roast until softened and golden, about 35 minutes.
- 4
Meanwhile, cook the grain pouches according to pack instructions.
- 5
Transfer cooked grains to a large bowl and add roasted carrots.
- 6
In a small bowl, whisk orange zest, juice, olive oil, and mustard together, season lightly.
- 7
Pour dressing over grains and toss to combine.
- 8
Divide salad between 4 bowls or plates, top with sliced chilli, fresh coriander leaves, and crumbled feta before serving.
Tips
For even cooking, try to keep carrot halves similar in size.
The salad can be served warm or at room temperature.
Good to Know
Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Salad is best eaten within a day of dressing to prevent sogginess.
Roast carrots and cook grains up to 1 day ahead. Make dressing up to 2 days ahead. Assemble and dress salad just before serving.
Divide between 4 shallow bowls or plates and top with chilli, coriander, and feta at the table for best presentation.
Common Mistakes
Do not skip the cooking spray misting to avoid dry, unevenly roasted carrots.
Do not dress the salad too far in advance to avoid the grains becoming soggy.
Substitutions
loses nutty texture from quinoa