Thai Quinoa Mason Jar Salads

This Thai Quinoa Mason Jar Salad recipe makes meal prepping healthy, meatless, vegetarian (and easily vegan) lunch for the week super easy! Protein from the edamame and quinoa, fiber from the veggies, and delicious flavor from the easy Thai dressing. Easy, healthy meal prep!

Ingredients You'll Need for these Meal Prep Salads:

• Shelled Edamame
• Quinoa
• Bell Pepper
• Carrots
• Purple Cabbage
• Cashews
• Thai Dressing: Olive Oil, Soy Sauce, Rice Wine Vinegar, Honey, Chili Garlic Sauce, Sesame Oil, Lime Juice, Garlic and Ginger Powder

How to Layer a Mason Jar Salad:

Properly layering the salad ingredients is KEY to having the salads last for days in the fridge without anything getting soggy.

1. Dressing – This always goes in the bottom so you can separate it from ingredients to keep things nice and crisp. 
2. Proteins – This recipe is vegetarian, so we’re using edamame as the protein but you could add something like chicken in this layer as well.
3. Grains – Quinoa!
4. Vegetables – Any veggies that aren’t leafy greens.
5. Leafy Greens – These always go last so they are the furthest away from the dressing. No leafy greens called for in this salad, but if you wanted to add any do so last!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do I have to use mason jars?

I like to use mason jars for a few reasons..

• They easily keep the dressing and other ingredients separated allowing the salads to last several days in the fridge
• Glass so no staining or keeping smells like plastic does
• And dishwasher safe for easy cleaning

You can use a different container, but you may need to put the dressing in its own individual container and the ingredients may not stay as crisp and fresh.

How long can these salads last for meal prep?

In the mason jars, the salads keep for 4-5 days in the fridge.

By the 5th day, the veggies may lose some of their crispness, but will still taste great and be perfectly fine to eat.

I typically make 4 salads on a Sunday to eat for lunch Monday-Thursday.

What about ingredient substitutions?

You can omit any ingredient you like! Go ahead and add more of something or add a different veggie, protein, or grain.

As long as you follow the layering ‘rules’ stated above, it will still be great.

What size of mason jar?

I wrote this recipe using the large quart (32oz) sized mason jars. They are big and make large very filling salads.

You could use pint (16oz) sized jars and make 8 salads instead of 4. This is good option if you want the salads to be the side, instead of the main course.

Where can I buy mason jars?

You can find mason jars at many stores! Most grocery stores will carry them, at a store like Target or Walmart, even hardware stores.

Or of course you can find them online!

Is this recipe vegan?

It can be! The only non-vegan ingredient is the honey in the dressing. You could substitute something like agave or a different sugar or sweetener of choice.

Looking for other healthy mason jar salad recipes?

If you love these Thai Quinoa Mason Jar Salads, check out this Lemon Chickpea & Quinoa Mason Jar Salad recipe.

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