Quinoa Salad

Easy & Delicious Quinoa Salad

Are you looking for a simple salad that you will absolutely LOVE? Yes, you can LOVE salad, if you don't believe me, make this Easy Quinoa Salad. I guarantee you will love it.

I make this quinoa salad almost every single week because it's that good and super easy to throw together, especially if you have leftover quinoa in the fridge.

I like to make quinoa every weekend so I can easily toss this quinoa salad together! It is light, refreshing, and full of flavor. Plus, it is allergy-friendly (vegan and gluten-free too) making it a great salad for almost everyone!

Enjoy the salad for lunch, dinner, or serve as a side dish along side any meal. I love taking this simple quinoa salad to potlucks and parties because everyone loves it and it only takes me minutes to make!

Simple Ingredients

I REALLY love this salad because it is made with simple and fresh ingredients…and ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen! YAY! You can whip this salad up at anytime. You will need:

• Quinoa (any variety will work)
• Spinach (can use arugula or kale)
• Tomatoes
• Cucumber
• Avocado
• Green onion

The ingredients might seem super basic and that is because they are, but I promise you that's a GOOD thing. Oh, and there is also a refreshing lemon dressing that takes about two seconds to whisk up!

This salad is very versatile. Feel free to add chicken, shrimp, chickpeas, or white beans. You can also stir in pistachios, pepitas, pine nuts, or almonds for a little crunch! If you like cheese, add feta, goat cheese, or Parmesan cheese! You can also brighten the salad up with fresh herbs like basil, parsley, or cilantro!

Salads

Easy Quinoa Salad Recipe

This easy quinoa salad combines fresh spinach, tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, and green onion with a simple lemon dressing for a light and nutritious meal. It's a quick, protein-packed dish that's perfect for lunch, dinner, or meal prep.

4.57 from 205 votes

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Cuisine American

Servings 6

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Equipment

• Salad Bowl (I use this Williams Sonoma bowl for large salads and entertaining)

Ingredients

  

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For the Dressing:

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 clove minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 large lemon
• 1 tablespoon golden balsamic or champagne vinegar (can use red wine vinegar)
• 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup (can use honey)
• Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

For the Salad:

• 2 cups cooked quinoa
• 2 cups fresh spinach leaves, chopped
• 1 cup chopped cucumber
• 1 cup halved grape or cherry tomatoes
• 1 large avocado, pitted, peeled, and chopped
• 2 green onions, sliced
• Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

 

• First, make the dressing. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, vinegar, maple syrup or honey, salt and pepper. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine quinoa, spinach, cucumber, tomatoes, avocado, and green onions.
• Drizzle salad with dressing and gently stir until salad is coated with the dressing. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve.

Notes

Storing: Store the salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. If you are meal prepping, you can wait to add the avocado. You can also store the dressing separate or add a little more when serving to freshen it up.

Variations: Swap the spinach for arugula or kale. You can also add cooked shredded chicken or chickpeas. Add your favorite nuts for a crunch! Feel free to add feta cheese, goat cheese, or Parmesan cheese! You can also add fresh herbs like basil, parsley, or cilantro! 

Nutrition

Serving: 6g, Calories: 225kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 19mg, Potassium: 419mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 1165IU, Vitamin C: 15.3mg, Calcium: 33mg, Iron: 1.7mg

Keywords avocado, cucumber, quinoa, spinach, tomato

Have you tried this recipe?

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How to Cook Quinoa

Don't be afraid of cooking quinoa, it is super easy to make. I love using it in salads because it is healthy, hearty, and a good source of protein. Bonus, you can make it in advance so the salad is easy to throw together. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Here are my tips for cooking perfect quinoa every single time!

• Place the quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer and rinse under cold water. Rinsing removes quinoa's natural coating, called saponin, which can make it taste soapy or bitter. Drain.
• For one cup of quinoa, you need 2 cups of liquid, water or broth. Cooking the quinoa in broth will add more flavor, but water is fine too.
• In a medium saucepan, combine water or broth, the rinsed quinoa, and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover with a lid. Cook for 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes, covered. Remove the lid and fluff the quinoa with a fork. Serve!

More Quinoa Salad Recipes

• Asian Quinoa Salad
• Southwest Quinoa Salad
• Summer Quinoa Salad
• Greek Quinoa Salad
• Apple Walnut Quinoa Salad