High-protein quinoa comes to the rescue when you need a quick dish. Proteins and good fats are in this Fresh and Healthy Quinoa Salad. It’s the perfect dish for your next get-together!
Just look at those colors! This salad is definitely a crowd-pleaser. Leafy greens are a classic base to salads, but replacing them with quinoa adds so many benefits. You get the protien and fiber that your body was asking for!
The simple vinaigrette for this quinoa salad is made of just 3 ingredients: olive oil, lemon juice, and salt. It’s the perfect dressing to use when you want to flavors of the salad to stand out the most!
Quinoa is an amazing product. Besides being so delicious, it’s also full of good nutrients for the body and health benefits. Eating quinoa is a great way for vegetarians to get protein. In this quinoa salad recipe, bell peppers and cucumber add a delicious crunchy texture to the salad. The mint leaves make it smell like no other salad. It’s not only delicious, but very pretty and low in calories! The list can go on … but try and see for yourself! This salad can stay fresh up to four days.
What do I need to make this fresh salad?
Quinoa fills you with fiber and protein.
Cucumbers help to lower blood sugar and are hydrating.
Carrots fill you with vitamin A and beta-carotene.
Bell peppers are filled with vitamin C and potassium.
Green onion is rich in vitamin K, which keeps your bones strong.
Walnuts support a healthy gut and are good for heart health.
Parsley is anti-inflammatory is is good for your kidneys.
Along with those ingredients, you’ll need water, hot pepper, mint, olive oil, salt, and lemon juice.
Steps
First thing you need to do is cook the quinoa. Rinse 1 cup of quinoa and transfer into a medium pot. Add 2 cups of water, a pinch of salt, and bring to a boil. Cover the pot with a lid, reduce the heat, and cook on medium-low until water is absorbed (about 15 minutes). Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 more minutes. Then uncover and set aside to cool. (1 cup of raw quinoa makes about 3 cups cooked quinoa).
Add all of the chopped ingredients to quinoa.
To make a salad dressing, mix together 2 Tbsp olive oil, 2 Tbsp of lemon juice, and a pinch of salt.
Add the dressing to the salad and mix.
NOTES
You can serve this dish as a side salad with meat dishes, or on its own as a yummy and healthy lunch.
Fresh and Healthy Quinoa Salad with a Simple Vinaigrette Yum
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw quinoa
- 2 cups water
- 1 large cucumber (chopped)
- 2 carrots (chopped)
- 3 bell peppers (preferably different colors, chopped)
- 1 hot pepper (seeded & chopped)
- 4 stems green onion (chopped)
- ½ cup walnuts (chopped)
- 0.3 cup parsley (chopped)
- 10 mint leaves (finely chopped)
For the dressing:
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- pinch of salt
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
First thing you need to do is cook the quinoa. Rinse 1 cup of quinoa and transfer into a medium pot. Add 2 cups of water, a pinch of salt, and bring to a boil. Cover the pot with a lid, reduce the heat, and cook on medium-low until water is absorbed (about 15 minutes). Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 more minutes. Then uncover and set aside to cool. (1 cup of raw quinoa makes about 3 cups cooked quinoa).
Add all of the chopped ingredients to quinoa.
To make a salad dressing, mix together 2 Tbsp olive oil, 2 Tbsp of lemon juice, and a pinch of salt.
Add the dressing to the salad and mix.
NOTES
You can serve this dish as a side salad with meat dishes, or on its own as a yummy and healthy lunch.
Nutrition Facts
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