There’s nothing like a good quinoa salad… it’s filling, refreshing, and makes you feel awesome knowing the goodness you just put in your body.
Quinoa(pronounced keen-wa) cooks like a grain, but botanically it’s not actually a cereal grass like wheat or barley or oats. It’s technically a seed, and often called a pseudo-grain.
Why is quinoa so healthy? Well, for vegans and vegetarians it’s always held up as the poster child for getting all the essential amino acids in the proper proportions (aka it’s a complete protein). Not that we need to get all the amino acids in one food, or worry aboutprotein combiningin one meal, but it never hurts.
But the benefits of quinoa go beyond protein. It’s full of the B vitamins, especially B6, folate, thiamine and riboflavin.
It’s also packed with minerals. 1 cup of cooked quinoa gives you 15% of your daily recommended intake ofiron, 30% of yourmagnesium, and 58% of your manganese.
Data on quinoa fromNutritionData.comand Superfoods: The Healthiest Foods On The Planet, by Tonia Reinhard.
10 Quinoa Salad Recipes
There are a ton of ways to use quinoa in recipes, but one of my favorites is to make it in a variety of quinoa salads. Here are some of my top picks:
1. Quinoa Spring Salad
So many amazing veggies come together, along with fresh herbs and a great vinaigrette, for a perfectspring meal.
2. Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad
Zesty and refreshing, this is a great way to use some fresh parsley.
3. Blueberry, Kale and Quinoa Salad With Blueberry Vinaigrette
Amazing flavor and texture combinations inthis salad, topped with a gorgeous blueberry vinaigrette.
4. Summer Fruity Quinoa
Fruity and zesty with a tiny spicy kick – perfect for a summer pot luck to show everyone how amazingquinoa saladcan be.
5. Nutty Quinoa And Cherry Salad
Great as part of aholiday meal, but equally good any night of the year.
6. Watermelon Mint Quinoa Salad
An amazingsummer salad!
7. Southwestern Quinoa Salad
Youcan’t go wrongwith lime, cumin and cilantro…
8. International Quinoa Salad
Lots ofgreat flavors and veggies– including avocado. Quinoa + avocado = awesome.
9. Quinoa Salad With Roasted Beets, Chickpeas And Orange
A little sweet, a little savory,super deliciousand healthy!
10. Mango Quinoa Salad
I love mango in anything, but the dressing forthis saladsounds amazing…
Image Credit: Heather Nauta,Healthy Vegan Recipes
Debby Sunshinesays
These are great quinoa salad ideas. I love the combination of quinoa with pine nuts.
Heather Nautasays
you can never have too many ideas for quinoa salads, right? my only problem is that I want to eat ALL of them, right NOW!
Rickisays
My all-time favorite grain (or pseudo grain, that is!). So many great ideas here. . . thanks, Heather!
Heather Nautasays
aw, thanks Ricki, I’m totally in love with your idea to use blueberries in the salad dressing!