In just ten minutes, you can whip up this supremely delicious dish that is packed with flavor, texture, color and nutrition. Whether you are a fan of salads for lunch or dinner, this Vegan Walnut Quinoa Salad is a wonderful treat. The dressing includes just three ingredients, and you can have this table-ready in minutes.
Feelgood Facts
The focal point of this salad is the quinoa. By now, almost everyone has discovered the remarkable benefits of this ancient grain, and if you have yet to try it, this is the recipe in which to introduce it into your diet. Packed with proteins (even more than some meat sources), quinoa is also a high fiber food rich in iron, magnesium, B2 vitamins and lysine.
Cherry tomatoes add a nice spot of color and are the nutritional equivalents of their larger cousins. Full of fiber and vitamin C, they also bring a nice dose of protein to this salad. The avocado is a fabulous ingredient and is a remarkable source of nutrition. It has more potassium than a banana, is loaded with healthy fiber and features monounsaturated fats that help to combat bad cholesterol. The walnuts are a great addition as they come with lots of antioxidants and fiber, but one of the most appealing things about them (apart from the flavor and crunch) is that they are now known for their neuroprotective compounds that support brain health.
The dressing includes three potent ingredients that begin with the red wine vinegar. Long known for aiding in digestion it is also a food source for resveratrol – a natural compound noted for reducing your risk for developing cancer. Even the Dijon mustard in the dressing is beneficial, bringing some vitamin A along with that punch of flavor.
For lunch or dinner, salads like this are fantastic to add to your repertoire.
For more quinoa recipes, check out:
- Quinoa Avocado Salad
- Chicken and Quinoa Bowl
- Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad
- Quinoa Burger
- Quinoa Breadsticks
- Quinoa Stuffed Zucchini
If you’ve tried this healthy-ish feel good Walnut Quinoa 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!
Walnut Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
Salad
- 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes chopped
- 1/2 avocado diced
- 2 tbsp raw walnuts
Dressing
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup walnuts
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, add quinoa, tomatoes, avocado and 2tbsp walnuts and set aside.
- In a small hand blender, mix the vinegar, Dijon mustard, ¼ cup walnuts, salt and pepper and blend until it becomes an even consistency of dressing.
- Toss the quinoa and ingredients with the dressing, and enjoy! I served mine with a half grilled cheese sandwich because lunch is more fun with options!
