Gluten Free Quinoa and Chickpea Salad with Dijon Dressing

Looking for a protein-packed salad? It’s right here! This Quinoa Avocado Chickpea Salad is all you need for a filling lunch. Loaded with crunchy onion, juicy tomatoes, creamy avocados and protein packed quinoa and chickpeas. Tossed with an easy made from scratch Dijon dressing.

Do you eat chickpeas? Growing up I don’t remember my mom using chickpeas in the kitchen. It wasn’t till I met my in-laws and had dinner over at their house, I tried chickpeas for the first time. Ever since I have been loving chickpeas.

Why should you incorporate chickpeas into your diet?

Chickpeas have many health benefits. They help with weight control, digestion, inflammation, cholesterol level, and help with blood, bone and heart health. Try chickpeas in this quinoa chickpea salad!

How To Cook Quinoa

Quinoa is can be found in a variety of colors, like red, black, white or a mix of all three. No matter the color, each variety is cooked the same way.
Prepare: Before you cook quinoa, start off by rinsing it in a fine mesh strainer, this is optional, but recommended to rinse the saponins (a naturally occurring insecticides that give a bitter taste and could be hard to digest).
Cook: 1 3/4 cup: 1 cup ratio. All you need is water! Some recipes say to add more or less water, for fork fluffy, light quinoa result that is not mushy or dry, I use 1 3/4 cups of water for 1 cup of raw quinoa. 

Is Quinoa Gluten-free?

This Quinoa Chickpea Salad is perfect for those on a gluten-free diet. The quinoa is the source of gluten-free and a high protein grain. Quinoa is also a low-fat protein option.

Benefits of a Quinoa Salad?

Another great thing about this salad is the parsley. This green vegetable is double-acting: it strengthens your teeth and boosts the immune system. One more ingredient I will mention is the one an only olive oil. It benefits your skin. Along with that, olive oil can hold your blood pressure low and keep the gallbladder healthy.

Reasons this salad is not healthy?

Absolutely none! Why wouldn’t it be healthy? With all of the fresh ingredients, you can’t go wrong with such a delicious and nutritious lunch!

The dressing in this salad is important to look over. Why? Because all of the ingredients are probably ones that you’ll recognize! Lots of store-bought dressings have gluten in them, adding it as a thickener or to boost the flavor. That’s not necessary when you combine Dijon mustard, lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, and salt. They bring out the flavors and add in that extra jazz that makes this salad the one that you will make over and over again.

What do I need to make this recipe?

Quinoa is gluten free, and is very high in fiber.

Chickpeas support digestion and are high in protein.

Tomatoes contain lycopene, potassium, and folate.

Red onion contains quercetin, which helps to fight inflammation.

Avocado is filled with potassium and fiber.

Fresh parsley has vitamin K, which supports bone metabolism.

Here are some main dishes you can pair this salad with:

Cajun Halibut with Quinoa and Watercress is a great seafood-based main dish.

These Simple Chicken Meatballs with an Easy Tomato Sauce are a family favorite!