Don’t want to keep on beating the same dish again? Want to up the nutritional aspect of your salad? This quinoa-based recipe gives a super healthy and tasty salad variation. We top up quinoa with various vegetables and fresh herbs for all-around nutrition and to add crunch and vibrant colors. We need a great quinoa salad dressing with a good mix of zesty flavors for a cereal that is not high on taste. For this, we go with a red wine vinaigrette, a classic salad dressing combining acidity from the red wine with the richness of olive oil. It’s a delightful blend that adds a zesty and slightly fruity punch to your salads. For some savory and herby notes, we use garlic powder, dijon mustard, and fresh herbs. I have shared a few salad recipes over the years. Salads are healthy and a refreshing way to have lunch. You may check out these salad recipes – Italian Chopped Salad, Roasted Corn Salad, or even one based on an Asian dressing like Asian Cucumber Salad.
Quinoa Salad
We have all heard about the nutritional benefits of quinoa – High fiber, low carbs, good protein, and plenty of vitamins and minerals. Here are a few reasons why I made and loved this – In addition, quinoa has anti-inflammatory nutrients, which help in reducing inflammation and thus preventing and curing disease. Eating quinoa daily is OK because it’s a nutritious grain. But it packs many carbs, so if you are into a diet plan, use it judiciously. It may not be the right food for your keto/low-carb diet since it is high in carbs. You may include it in a very small portion and other high fiber and protein. It has 50% higher carbs than brown rice and as much as white rice. Thinking of carbs, it is a good substitute for white rice in your meals. It is an easier choice because it has twice the protein and more fiber than white rice. If this is your first time, watch out if your body shows signs of allergy or intolerance to Quinoa. Quinoa can be served hot or cold but is typically served cold as a side dish or in salads. For a hot and savory dish made with quinoa, check out Quinoa Chicken Broccoli Casserole made in a slow cooker. It is hearty, savory, and filling with chicken and has the goodness of quinoa and broccoli.
Olive oil – is the best dressing for a salad. It not just improves the taste but also helps in absorbing nutrients from the vegetables. Recommend extra-virgin olive oil. Red Wine Vinegar – Gives a pinkish color, bringing acidity and sweetness to the dressing. It can substitute with other wine-based vinegar like sherry, white wine, or champagne vinegar. Garlic powder – a bomb of flavor. You will find garlic in most of my recipes. Sugar – to provide sweetness to the dressing and salad Dijon Mustard – It adds zest and flavor to the vinaigrette. Dijon mustard is stronger in flavor and a bit spicier than regular mustard. Oregano and parsley – commonly used herbs to make the salad base more interesting. Salt and pepper – for seasoning as per taste
Advisable to rinse quickly and thoroughly before cooking. The reason being Quinoa grains have a bitter coating on their hull called Saponin. This gives it a bitter taste which we would like to avoid.
Prepare the dressing Mix all these common ingredients in a bowl. Whisk it well and keep aside. Cook the quinoa Rinse the quinoa under running water for a minute and transfer it to a sieve to drain excess water. You may roast the quinoa, giving it a very nice nutty flavor. Chop the vegetables Chop the vegetables into bite-sized pieces to get all the different things in each mouthful. Toss Assemble the quinoa, all the veggies and seeds in a bowl. Add the fresh herbs. Drizzle the salad dressing on top. Toss everything well.
Top Tips
Take care while cooking the quinoa. If that is done well, you are clear on this. The rest of the recipe isn’t too hard. This salad has many ingredients, and tasting as many as possible in each mouthful is preferable. Chop your vegetables into bite-sized pieces accordingly. Pick a cheese (if you don’t have feta) that is not too soft. The cheese to be added should be able to crumble or shred. Shake the ingredients of the vinaigrette well so that olive oil emulsifies when it comes in contact with vinegar. The result is a nice creamy texture.
Prepare the quinoa and the dressing if you plan to make it ahead. You may keep the veggies chopped and ready. On the consumption day, toss them together in a bowl, and it’s as fresh as ever.
Store and freeze
You can freeze this in the refrigerator for up to seven days. While storing it, pack it in zip-lock bags or any air-tight containers and save it in the refrigerator. This salad can be eaten hot or cold. When you are ready to eat it, take it out and let it warm up to room temperature if you prefer to eat it warm. Moreover, because of the amount of quinoa in it, it is a meal by itself. Quinoa, because it contains loads of carbs, is very fulfilling. The salad also has the required amount of green vegetables, superfoods (sunflower seeds), and herbs. You can also serve this with a plate of proteins like grilled or fried meat. Suggest chicken wings, Tortilla Chips, Baked Fish Bites, or Crispy Fried Chicken Tenders. Some breads, side and meat dishes that pair well with this salad are –
Roasted/grilled Chicken – Grilled Rosemary Chicken Kebabs, Easy Grilled Chicken, and Roasted Harissa Chicken are delicious chicken mains from the grills or oven. Meat dishes – Pan-Seared Lamb Chop Recipe, Skillet pork chops, and Chili Garlic Shrimp are some sumptuous meats and seafood to pair with salads. Air fried – Salmon, Chicken & Potatoes, Roasted Broccoli, and Chicken Wings (3 Ways) are quick and easy mains done in an air fryer. Roasted veggies – Roasted Lemon Pepper Zucchini and Pecan Honey Roasted Carrot will complement the tangy salad. Garlic bread – toasted bread with butter or garlic bread works with most salads. Another garlicky recipe is No-Knead Roasted Garlic Foccacia. A plain option is No-Knead Rustic White Bread. Potatoes – Roasted potatoes are a classic vegetarian option. Try my Cheesy Ranch Potatoes or Baked Crispy Cajun Potatoes for other options.
Fall Roasted Sweet Potato Salad – A pecan and soft feta sprinkled over the garlic and Dijon mustard dressing. Cucumber Strawberry Salad – The freshness of cucumber and the sweet juiciness of strawberry make a great combo. Lemon Dill Potato Salad( No Mayo) – Dill leaves sprinkled over another toss of herby, lemony dressing, and potatoes. Cold Tuna Pasta Salad – an easy summer salad that is healthy with the goodness of tuna, macaroni, olive oil, and veggies. Arugula Salad with Roasted Beetroots – A delicious balsamic dressing makes the fresh arugula and roasted beetroot shine. Roasted Corn Salad – Charring adds flavor to sweet corn and pairs well with a lemony, savory dressing.
