Fresh fruit: If you like the combination of sweet and savory, then mango, blueberries, strawberry, or apple could work.Dried fruit: Raisins, cranberries, or blueberries work in a cold quinoa salad.Nuts/seeds: Lightly toasted pine nuts, pepitas, sunflower seeds, slithered almonds, etc., will add crunch, protein, and heart-healthy fats.Vegan feta: To enhance the Mediterranean flavors further, or use a similar crumbly ‘cheese.’.Olives: This summer salad already contains several Mediterranean flavors, and some Kalamata olives would boost that further.Lemon zest: Add 1 tsp of lemon zest to the lemon quinoa salad for extra zing.Spice: You could add some finely chopped chili or a pinch of red pepper flakes.Fresh herbs: Parsley works particularly well, or cilantro, mint, or basil.It’s made with just a handful of ingredients, including EVOO, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and Dijon mustard.

Dressing: This homemade lemon vinaigrette is perfect as a flavorful dressing for quinoa salad.

You could also substitute these with other pulses, like green lentils or white beans.

Chickpeas (garbanzo beans): I used canned chickpeas, but use home-cooked chickpeas (or even crispy chickpeas) if preferred.

Jarred roasted peppers would also work), tomatoes (large or grape/cherry tomatoes, chopped), and zucchini.

Vegetables: I packed this cold quinoa salad with several veggies, including cucumber, red onion, green pepper (or a yellow/orange/red bell pepper.

Veggie bouillon: Use powder or a mini cube, reduced-sodium, if preferred.

Quinoa: You can use regular white or tri-color quinoa for this quinoa salad.

This version errs on the side of delicious Mediterranean/ Greek flavors but is easily adjustable to what you have available (keep reading for plenty of recommendations).Īnd if you want to enjoy more summery salads (no matter the time of year), you might enjoy this brown rice salad, Mexican avocado salad, or healthy vegan pasta salad! If you’d prefer some more vegan quinoa recipes, perhaps you’d enjoy this quinoa vegetable pilaf or broccoli cheese quinoa casserole. When combined with several fresh vegetables and an extra-virgin olive oil-based dressing, this balanced meal is truly nourishing!īest of all, it’s really simple to prepare with minimal hands-on effort it’s also meal-prep friendly and is super versatile. More so, it contains many beneficial plant compounds and antioxidants.

Quinoa (pronounced ‘keen-wah’) is an excellent source of numerous vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, manganese, zinc, iron, folate, copper, etc.

Not only will this quinoa chickpea salad keep you satiated for longer (thanks to the high levels of protein and fiber), but it also offers several other health benefits. This summery lemon quinoa salad combines slightly chewy quinoa with fresh cucumber, red onion, bell pepper, tomatoes, zucchini, and chickpeas all tossed in a vibrant lemon-garlic-mustard vinaigrette, sure to satisfy! If you want a little taste of summer wrapped up in a nutritious dish, then this gluten-free, vegan quinoa salad is a must-try. This healthy quinoa salad is packed with protein, versatile mixed veggies, and tossed in a bright lemon vinaigrette for a fresh and summery main dish or side for BBQs, potlucks, picnics, and mid-week meals!

Quinoa recipes