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    Home » Recipes » Salad Recipes

    Everyday Quinoa Salad

    Published: Apr 6, 2022 by Kathleen Hansen · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    This Everyday Quinoa Salad is an easy veggie-packed side that pairs with almost any meal. Loaded with lots of color, texture, and tossed together with an easy lemon dressing.

    quinoa veggie salad in mixing bowl

    Why I Love It

    • Vegan and Plant-Based
    • Fresh and Colorful
    • Meal Prep Friendly
    quinoa, veggies, and parsley in glass bowl

    Ingredients for this Quinoa Salad:

    • Quinoa - I also love using quinoa to make these Crispy Quinoa Patties.
    • Veggie Stock or Water - For cooking the quinoa. I love the extra flavor that cooking in stock gives, but using water is just fine.
    • Veggies - Cucumber, Bell Pepper, Red Onion
    • Fresh Parsley
    • Dressing - Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Red Wine Vinegar, Garlic, Salt and Pepper
    quinoa, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, and parsley
    veggie quinoa salad in glass bowl

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Does quinoa need to be rinsed?

    Quinoa does need to be rinsed before cooking or you can buy quinoa that is labeled as 'pre-rinsed'. The reason for rinsing is to remove the bitter-tasting compound (saponin) that coats the seeds.

    How can you add more flavor to cooked quinoa?

    For extra flavor, try cooking the quinoa in a stock or broth instead of water.

    colorful quinoa salad

    Quinoa Salad Variations

    • Chickpeas - For plant-based protein, add a can of rinsed and drained chickpeas.
    • Chicken - Cooked and shredded or cubed chicken breast is a great addition
    • Salmon - Cooked and flaked salmon can be gently tossed into the salad.
    • Other Veggies - This salad is very customizable with the veggies of your choosing.
    lemon dressing in a mason jar

    Storage and Make Ahead

    • Salad Storage - If the salad has been tossed with the dressing, it can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Be aware that the veggies will soften slightly.
    • Dressing Storage - The dressing will keep in the fridge, in a mason jar or container for up to one week. Give the dressing another shake before using.
    • Make Ahead - For best results when making ahead for meal prep, I like to wait to toss with the dressing. This will keep the veggies crisp much longer.
    tossed quinoa salad with veggies

    Check out these other Quinoa Recipes

    • Thai Quinoa Salad - Filled with tons of crunch, texture, and tossed together with a delicious homemade Sesame Dressing.
    • Crispy Quinoa Patties - Serve on a salad, in a pita, as a side dish, or on their own with a little hot sauce and avocado.
    • Vegan Quinoa Chili - Protein-packed thanks to the quinoa and beans and lots of fiber make this chili extra filling. 

    Those ads on the page? A portion of all ad revenue is being donated to Warrior Dog Rescue. A MN-based dog rescue that I foster and volunteer with.

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    Recipe

    Everyday Quinoa Salad

    quinoa, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, and parsley
    Print Recipe

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 1 review

    This Everyday Quinoa Salad is an easy veggie-packed side that pairs with almost any meal. Loaded with lots of color, texture, and tossed together with an easy lemon dressing.

    • Author: Kathleen
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 20 minutes
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings
    • Category: Main Dish, Meatless Monday, Salad
    • Method: Stove
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Vegan

    Ingredients

    Quinoa Salad

    • 1 cup dry quinoa
    • 2 cups veggie stock or water, for cooking the quinoa
    • 1 medium cucumber, finely diced
    • 1 bell pepper, finely diced
    • 1 small red onion, finely diced
    • 1 cup finely chopped parsley, from 1 bunch

    Lemon Dressing

    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • ¼ cup lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ground black pepper

    Instructions

    1. Cook the Quinoa: Combine the quinoa (rinsed, if needed) and the stock or water in a medium pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Then lower the heat to a simmer. Cook, covered, until the quinoa has absorbed all the liquid. About 15 minutes. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork. Allow to cool for 10 minutes while you chop up the veggies.
    2. Toss Salad - In a large bowl, combine the cucumber, bell pepper, onion, parsley, and slightly cooled quinoa.
    3. Mix Dressing - In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, and salt. Whisk until well blended. Or you can shake it all up in a mason jar.
    4. Toss Dressing with Salad - Pour the dressing over the salad. Toss until well combined and season with pepper, to taste.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: ¼ of recipe
    • Calories: 323
    • Sugar: 4.8 g
    • Sodium: 444.7 mg
    • Fat: 17 g
    • Carbohydrates: 37.8 g
    • Fiber: 5 g
    • Protein: 7.6 g
    • Cholesterol: 0 mg

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    1. Katie says

      March 19, 2023 at 9:49 am

      I love having this for lunch or as a healthy side with dinner.

      Reply

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