Quinoa is certainly one of my favourite grains so as to add to salads for further endurance, vitamins, and texture. However generally, it will get a nasty rap for being “boring”.
I’m right here to say: whereas quinoa can completely be boring if not ready effectively, it positively doesn’t must be! I put collectively an inventory of a few of my favourite scrumptious and wholesome quinoa salad recipes so that you can attempt.
These grain salads are filled with tons of taste and nutritious elements. Plus, they make fabulous facet dishes or make forward lunches!
Dietary Advantages of Quinoa
Quinoa is filled with diet!
First off, quinoa is excessive in fiber. Not solely that, but it surely gives many nutritional vitamins and minerals – together with potassium, iron, magnesium, and folate – that many individuals don’t get sufficient of of their diets.
Quinoa additionally has twice as a lot protein as white rice (plus extra fiber), however is simply as versatile on the subject of cooking!
Totally different Varieties of Quinoa
Quinoa is available in 4 colours:
- White Quinoa: That is essentially the most versatile quinoa, and has the mildest taste. (That is what a lot of the salads listed under use, however you’ll be able to swap it out for any sort you favor or have available!)
- Crimson Quinoa: This quinoa has a extra crunchy texture, and a bolder, extra savory nutty taste.
- Black Quinoa: This one is more durable to search out, because it’s not as frequent. Like crimson quinoa, black quinoa is crunchier and nuttier than white quinoa.
- Tri Coloration Quinoa / Rainbow Quinoa: This sort of quinoa combines all three colours of quinoa collectively for quite a lot of flavors and textures. I’m a fan – I imply, why select one when you’ll be able to have all three?!
Simple Grain Salads with Quinoa
And now, let’s get to my favourite flavorful salads that characteristic this nutritious grain!
There’s quite a lot of totally different flavors to select from right here, together with a fall-inspired cranberry pecan salad (this has been featured at a lot of our vacation dinners and is at all times successful – it was even served at our wedding ceremony!) and a taco salad that occurs to be certainly one of my favourite go-to lunches.
Let’s dive in to the quinoa salad recipe concepts!
Quinoa & Kale Salad with Soft Boiled Eggs
This tremendous nutritious quinoa kale salad options crunchy veggies (like bell pepper, broccoli slaw, and crimson cabbage), salty feta cheese, and jammy soft-boiled eggs.
It’s completed with a straightforward apple cider dijon dressing that packs a taste punch. Completely scrumptious!
Avocado & Arugula Quinoa Salad with Orange Vinaigrette
A brilliant orange French dressing is the spotlight of this quinoa salad, but it surely additionally has heaps extra goodness to it: creamy avocado, white beans, peppery arugula, and salty feta. Sliced almonds add a pleasant little bit of crunch and taste, too!
That is tremendous simple to toss collectively, and makes a superb prep-ahead lunch. Simply wait so as to add the dressing and chop the avocado for optimum freshness.
Quinoa Taco Salad
Say hiya to certainly one of my most favourite fast lunches ever: quinoa taco salad! You probably have leftover cooked quinoa, this comes collectively lightning quick.
Simply high the quinoa with black beans, diced tomato and bell peppers, cheese, and avocado. Then, add some recent cilantro and your favourite salsa and toss all of it collectively!
It’s very scrumptious and tastes tremendous recent.
Pumpkin Quinoa Salad
Whether or not you’re searching for a Thanksgiving facet dish or a straightforward autumn-inspired lunch, this pumpkin quinoa salad is flavorful and comforting.
It’s filled with veggies, too: along with the pureed pumpkin, it has asparagus and bok choy for a stunning serving of greens and crunch!
Mediterranean Green Tea Quinoa Salad
This refreshing quinoa salad is infused with earthy inexperienced tea and stuffed with Mediterranean flavors. Recent herbs, feta, chickpeas, bell pepper, cucumber, and tomatoes all come collectively for an totally scrumptious meal.
This makes an ideal prep forward packed lunch – simply add the lemon garlic dressing proper earlier than you dig in!
Lemony Spinach Bean Salad
This lemony quinoa salad has little or no prepare dinner time (particularly for those who’re utilizing pre-cooked quinoa) and boasts a number of protein, due to the kidney beans and quinoa.
The lemon juice provides a brilliant taste that actually makes this dish stand out. Get pleasure from by itself, or add roasted rooster or fish!
Vegan Cranberry Quinoa Salad
Crunchy pecans and sweet-tart cranberries make an unbeatable mixture on this salad! The calmly nutty, fluffy quinoa and recent herbs tie all of it collectively.
It appears to be like and tastes elegant, but it surely’s tremendous simple to make.
This could be pretty on any Thanksgiving or vacation desk, and it goes effectively with a number of essential dishes. Plus, it’s vegan, so everybody can take pleasure in it!
Feta Chickpea Grain Salad
This straightforward grain salad is a fast throw-together lunch, with crunchy cucumbers, chickpeas, tomatoes, feta, and arugula, all sitting on a mattress of quinoa.
(You may as well simply swap out the chickpeas for white beans, for those who choose.)
It’s all wearing a flavorful mixture of lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and dijon mustard!
Mushroom Quinoa Dish (Vegan)
You received’t imagine this tacky mushroom quinoa dish is definitely vegan! It will get its “tacky” taste from dietary yeast (it’s scrumptious, I promise!). It’s a comfortable facet dish or lunch that’s a lot filling – with out feeling heavy.
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I hope these quinoa salad recipes have satisfied you that quinoa is actually not boring! Get pleasure from. 🙂
What’s your favourite dish with quinoa? Let me know within the feedback!
Quinoa isn’t only for salads! Listed below are extra tasty quinoa recipes to attempt:
