Description
Favorite Quinoa Salad is a fresh, vibrant, and wholesome meal featuring nutty quinoa combined with colorful vegetables and a zesty, savory dressing. This easy-to-prepare salad is packed with essential nutrients and bold flavors, making it perfect for a light dinner, lunch, or meal prep option that stays fresh and satisfying for days.
Ingredients
Scale
Grains and Vegetables
- 1 cup quinoa
- 1 cup cucumbers, finely diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup bell peppers, finely diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh mint, roughly chopped
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons olive oil (natural)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (natural)
- 1 tablespoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- Juice of half a lemon (natural)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Quinoa: Rinse 1 cup of quinoa under cold running water to remove any bitterness. Cook according to package instructions using water or vegetable broth. Once cooked, fluff with a fork and let it cool completely before proceeding.
- Chop the Vegetables: Finely dice cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and red onion. Roughly chop fresh parsley and mint to preserve their aromatic flavor without overpowering the salad.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons olive oil (natural), 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (natural), 1 tablespoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural), juice of half a lemon (natural), salt, and pepper to taste. Adjust seasoning as needed for a balanced tangy and savory flavor.
- Combine All Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, toss the cooled quinoa with all chopped vegetables and herbs. Pour the dressing over the salad and mix gently but thoroughly until everything is evenly coated with the dressing.
- Chill Before Serving: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the dressing to infuse throughout the salad.
Notes
- Use a fork to fluff quinoa gently to keep grains separate and light.
- Refrigerate the salad to enhance blending of flavors and maintain freshness.
- Taste the dressing before mixing and adjust vinegar and salt accordingly.
- Use fresh herbs like parsley and mint for peak aroma and freshness.
- Cook quinoa a day in advance for faster salad assembly.
- Store leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezing is not recommended as it may alter texture and flavor.
- For a warm meal, serve the quinoa warm and add the salad ingredients fresh on top.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: International
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: quinoa salad, healthy salad, easy quinoa recipe, vegetarian salad, meal prep salad, fresh vegetable salad
