These 5 Easy Quinoa Salad Recipes are full of protein! Choose from five flavours: southwest, curried, Mediterranean, caprese or green goddess.
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Ingredients and substitutions
- Quinoa – use white, black or red quinoa.
- Salt – to taste.
Southwest quinoa salad
- Black beans – swap out for another bean of your choice like pinto, kidney or red beans.
- Corn – fresh, frozen or canned corn would all work. If you don’t like corn, swap out for another veggie of your choice.
- Red pepper – use any colour bell pepper of your choice.
- Lime juice – freshly squeezed lime juice is best but bottled will work in a pinch.
- Cilantro – leave this out if you’re not a fan of cilantro.
- Chili powder – make your own using a blend of paprika, cumin and cayenne.
Mediterranean quinoa salad
- Cucumber – substitute for another vegetable like zucchini or leave this out entirely.
- Red onion – white or yellow onion would also work.
- Sliced kalamata olives – use any kind of olive of your choice.
- Lemon juice – freshly squeezed lemon juice is best but bottled lemon juice can be used as well.
- Parsley – chervil will provide a similar flavour.
- Oregano – use basil instead or double up on the parsley.
Curried quinoa salad
- Shredded carrots – you can buy bags of shredded carrots at the grocery story. Shredded zucchini or celery would also be good.
- Red pepper – use any colour bell pepper of your choice.
- Red onion – white or yellow onion would also work.
- Green onions – add in some more red onion or use chives instead.
- Curry powder – cumin or coriander are the best substitutes here.
- Lemon juice – freshly squeezed lemon juice is best but bottled lemon juice can be used as well.
Caprese quinoa salad
- Cherry tomatoes – plum or grape tomatoes would also be good in this salad.
- Bocconcini pearls – if you can’t find bocconcini pearls, slices of fresh mozzarella would be yummy.
- Fresh basil leaves – basil is classic to caprese salad but in a pinch, you can use fresh oregano.
- Balsamic vinegar – make your own by mixing together 1 tbsp. red wine vinegar and 2 tbsp. maple syrup.
Green goddess quinoa salad
- Edamame – use green peas, garbanzo beans or snap peas instead.
- Broccoli – swap out for another green vegetable like spinach or kale.
- Cucumber – zucchini or celery would also be good in this salad.
- Basil leaves – swap out for some fresh oregano instead.
- Cilantro – leave this out if you’re not a fan of cilantro.
- Parsley – chervil will provide a similar flavour.
- Lemon juice – freshly squeezed lemon juice is best but bottled lemon juice can be used in a pinch.
- Garlic – use freshly minced or jarred minced garlic.
How to make quinoa salad
Step 1: Add quinoa and water to a pot.
Add quinoa and water to a large pot on the stove.
Step 2: Cook the quinoa.
Bring to a boil over high heat, then decrease to med-low heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 3: Stir the cooked quinoa.
Remove from heat, stirring quinoa once more.
Step 4: Let it cool.
Transfer to a large bowl and let cool for at least 30 minutes in the fridge.
Step 5: Add in your chosen salad ingredients.
While quinoa is cooling (you can also do this while it's cooking), prepare the toppings of choice for whichever salad you are going to make (choose from one of the headings). Once quinoa has cooled slightly, mix in toppings and toss to combine well.
Step 6: Serve or store for later!
Different types of quinoa
The first step to any quinoa salad recipe is cooking the quinoa! There are several different types of quinoa out there.
- White quinoa is the most common to find in the store. It cooks up to a fluffy light texture.
- Black quinoa has an earthy flavor.
- Red quinoa has the most nutritional value in the form of vitamins and minerals. Red quinoa ends up a little chewier. It has a rich nutty taste. This is the common choice for cold salads because it retains its texture so well.
There are also purple and orange varieties of quinoa, but they can be difficult to find in stock at most stores.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quinoa salad is a delicious and nutritious meal. It’s high in protein and fibre, so you’ll feel full for longer after eating a salad with quinoa as opposed to a plain salad with vegetables. It also has a low glycemic index so it will not cause a blood sugar spike and has been proven to have heart and respiratory benefits. All in all, it’s definitely good for you!
These quinoa salad recipe ideas are fantastic for lunch or a veggie-packed side dish for dinner. Pair them with burgers, steak, pork, or poultry to make a complete meal.
Yes, quinoa is gluten-free. It has fewer calories and carbs than white rice, and is a great gluten-free and low-carb alternative to pasta or rice dishes!
Most quinoa salad recipes call for rinsing quinoa before cooking. This is an optional step but I do recommend it. Quinoa has a natural coating that rinsing will wash away. Some people think it tastes bitter or soapy without rinsing while others might say it just has an earthy flavor. Most boxed quinoa is pre-rinsed, so you can rinse it again to be sure, but only if you want to. Just put it in a fine mesh strainer and run cold water over it for a minute or two.
The Best Quinoa Salad Recipes
The following quinoa salad recipes will give you a place to start with experimenting with combinations. Feel free to mix and match with different ingredient and flavour combinations.
Southwest quinoa salad
Caprese quinoa salad
Curried quinoa salad
Green goddess quinoa salad
Mediterranean quinoa salad
Storing and reheating
Quinoa salad is an easy lunch to prepare in advance. It is normally eaten cold so it’s a great option if your office doesn’t have a microwave. Plus, you’ll never have to worry about wilted or soggy lettuce! Store your salad in the fridge in glass meal prep containers for up to 5 days then eat it cold.
Can you freeze quinoa salad?
You can freeze quinoa on its own, but not the entire assemble quinoa salad. Freezing cooked quinoa is a great way to prep ahead – that way, it’s easy to make a salad with quinoa whenever you want.
After the quinoa cooked, allow it to cool completely. Then, transfer it into freezer storage bags or meal prep containers and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to use it, let it thaw in the fridge for 24 hours then use it to make a fresh salad or any recipe of your choice.
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Meal prep tools for this recipe
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning this salad into meal prep lunches.
- Freeze the cooked quinoa recipe in glass microwave-safe bowls up to 3 months.
5 Easy Quinoa Salad Recipes {Meal Prep}
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 tsp salt
Southwest quinoa salad
- 1 cup black beans
- 1 cup corn
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tbsp finely chopped cilantro
- 2 tsp chili powder
Mediterranean (Greek) quinoa salad
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup red onion, diced
- 1/2 cup sliced kalamata olives
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tsp oregano
Curried quinoa salad
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup red onion, diced
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 tbsp curry powder
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Caprese quinoa salad
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- 1 cup bocconcini pearls, sliced in half
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Green goddess quinoa salad
- 1/2 cup edamame
- 1/2 cup broccoli finely chopped
- 1/2 cup cucumber
- 1/2 cup basil leaves
- 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 cup parsley, chopped
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Instructions
- Add quinoa and water to a large pot on the stove. Bring to a boil over high heat, then decrease to med-low heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat, stirring quinoa once more. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool for at least 30 minutes in the fridge.
- While quinoa is cooling (you can also do this while it's cooking), prepare the toppings of choice for whichever salad you are going to make (choose from one of the headings). Once quinoa has cooled slightly, mix in toppings and toss to combine well. Serve and enjoy!
- Quinoa salad is typically eaten cold and will last in the fridge up to 5 days. Cooked quinoa without toppings will last in the freezer up to 3 months. If freezing, defrost in the fridge for 24 hours before tossing with toppings and serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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