
This vegan Quinoa Avocado Salad is made with simple ingredients and a tossed in a tangy dressing. It's a protein-packed salad that works for lunch or dinner
Sometimes you just need a break from salads with lettuce, especially in the winter. Am I right?! There are so many delicious ways of whipping of a salad without any leafy greens. And this quinoa avocado salad is a perfect example. Quinoa is packed with protein so it makes this grain salad very hearty, healthy and filling. If you haven’t thrown quinoa in a salad before, get tossin!
You’ll need one cup of quinoa, the most beautiful large avocados you can find, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions and cilantro. If you’re not a fan of cilantro, I definitely recommend substituting another herb like parsley, dill or mint. It just takes this light and fresh salad to another level of light and freshness. Thank you herbs.
The dressing is a mix of olive oil, red wine vinegar, lime juice, dijon mustard and garlic, It’s tangy, smooth and balances out the creamy avocados really well.
I bet you already have most of these ingredients in your fridge or as part of your weekly grocery haul.
Start by toasting the quinoa. To do this, I recommend not rinsing or soaking the quinoa. Just place it dry in a heated pan on medium heat and stir frequently. You don’t need salt, oil, or water. Just the quinoa and some heat. Within a few minutes, you’ll start to hear the popping sound and the sweet nutty aroma of the toasted quinoa.
That’s when you know it’s time to add the water, cover and cook it. When it’s done cooking, make sure to fluff it with a fork so it’s not clumpy in the salad.
Next, you’ll make the dressing by whisking together olive oil, red wine vinegar, lime juice, dijon mustard, garlic, salt and pepper. Because there’s garlic in there and I love smooth dressings, I’ll often use my mini blender/food processor to get the dressing smooth and emulsified. You don’t need to do that though. You can press the garlic and mince it, or even use garlic powder.
Next, you’ll assemble the quinoa avocado salad. Start with the quinoa as the base. Then add the other ingredients.
Pour the dressing, and give it a nice gentle toss. It’s ready!
How fabulous is my cherry tomatoes matching nail color though?! Hahaha. But seriously that’s all it takes to whip up this protein-packed salad!
This is one of those feel good recipes that is filled with protein from the quinoa, healthy fats from the avocados and olive oil, and a ton of vitamins from the tomatoes, cucumbers and red onions. You can serve it on its own as a side salad or lunch salad. Or you can even pair it with shrimp, salmon or chicken for a more filling dinner portion salad. However you eat it, I think you’re really going to enjoy this superfood salad!
If you’ve tried this healthy-ish feel good Quinoa Avocado Salad recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!
This vegan Quinoa Avocado Salad is made with simple ingredients and a tossed in a tangy dressing. It's a protein-packed salad that works for lunch or dinner
Place the quinoa in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Toast without oil or salt for 5-7 minutes until the seeds start to pop and become aromatic. Add 2 cups of water to the quinoa and bring to a boil, then turn down the heat to low. Cover and simmer the quinoa for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and keep covered for an additional 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and season with salt.
To make the dressing, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, lime juice, Dijon mustard, garlic and salt.
When the quinoa is cool, place it in a bowl and add all the ingredients for the salad on top. Pour the dressing on top and stir gently to combine. Serve at room temperature or chilled.
Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container. They will last about 3-4 days in the fridge. If you're not planning to finish the salad all in one day, it's best to add the dressing only to the portion you'll be eating.
Make Ahead Tips: You can make the dressing up to 1 week in advance and use it when ready for the salad.
Substitutes: For best results, follow the recipe as is. However you can omit or replace any vegetables that you'd like
Equipment: I love using my Cuisinart Smart Stick hand blender for making dressings. It's quick and easy and gets me the perfect consistency, without any chunks of garlic leftover.
Nutrition: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients you use. This information should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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