Quinoa Power Salad (Printable Version)

Nourishing quinoa with roasted vegetables, chickpeas, and tahini-lemon dressing, perfect for a healthy meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 2 cups water or vegetable broth

→ Roasted Vegetables

03 - 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
04 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
05 - 1 small red onion, chopped
06 - 1 medium carrot, sliced
07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Salad Base

10 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
11 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
12 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ Tahini-Lemon Dressing

13 - 1/4 cup tahini
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
15 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
16 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
17 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
18 - 2 to 3 tablespoons water (to thin)
19 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Toss diced bell pepper, zucchini, red onion, and sliced carrot with olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Spread evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
03 - Roast the vegetables for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender and lightly caramelized. Allow to cool slightly.
04 - In a medium saucepan, bring quinoa and water or broth to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork and cool slightly.
05 - Whisk tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, maple syrup or honey, minced garlic, salt, and water together in a small bowl until smooth and creamy.
06 - In a large bowl, combine cooked quinoa, roasted vegetables, chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, and chopped parsley. Drizzle with dressing and toss gently to incorporate.
07 - Serve salad warm or chilled, garnished with additional parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The roasted vegetables get sweet and caramelized while the quinoa stays fluffy, creating the best texture contrast
  • You can make a huge batch on Sunday and eat it all week without it ever getting soggy or sad
02 -
  • The dressing thickens up in the fridge so thin it with a little water before serving leftovers
  • Roasting the vegetables completely changes this salad from boring to absolutely crave-worthy
03 -
  • Double the dressing and keep it in a jar for salads all week
  • Use vegetable broth instead of water to cook the quinoa for extra depth of flavor
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