Zesty Quinoa Salad

Vegetable quinoa salad with carrots and cranberries on a red plate.

5 from 1 vote

Zesty Quinoa Salad is perfect for a hot summer day. It’s cool and refreshing, not to mention it is full of healthy ingredients! You can make it as a vegetarian salad or add chicken for extra protein.

Prep Time10

Cook Time15

Total Time25

Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chicken vegetable quinoa salad, vegetable quinoa salad, veggie quinoa salad

Servings:

Author: Jeannie

Equipment

mixing bowls
small pot

Ingredients

1 cup quinoa uncooked
1 pound chicken cooked, optional
1 orange sweet pepper diced
1 red sweet pepper diced
1 yellow sweet pepper diced
¼ red onion finely chopped
1 cup carrot shredded, about 2 carrots
½ cup fresh cilantro chopped
2 tablespoons Brazil nuts chopped finely or sliced almonds
1 cup cranberries dried
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
lime juice from 2 limes

Instructions

Cook quinoa according to the directions on the box. (Be sure to rinse the quinoa first.)
1 cup quinoa
Place the cooked quinoa in the refrigerator to chill.
While the quinoa is chilling, chop the vegetables, cilantro, and nuts.
1 orange sweet pepper, 1 red sweet pepper, 1 yellow sweet pepper, ¼ red onion, 1 cup carrot, ½ cup fresh cilantro, 2 tablespoons Brazil nuts
If you are using chicken, cook and cut up the chicken or use a cooked Rotisserie chicken.
1 pound chicken
Combine all chopped veggies, cilantro, & cranberries in a bowl with the cooked quinoa and diced chicken if you are using it.
1 pound chicken, 1 orange sweet pepper, 1 red sweet pepper, 1 yellow sweet pepper, ¼ red onion, 1 cup carrot, ½ cup fresh cilantro, 2 tablespoons Brazil nuts, 1 cup cranberries
Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper
Squeeze lime juice over salad and mix well.
lime juice
Serve as is or if you prefer it chilled, cover and chill at least one hour. It can be served either way.

Notes

Be sure to rinse the quinoa in cold water before cooking it to remove the saponins on the seed - otherwise, the quinoa will be very bitter.

Adapted from Super Healthy Kids

Nutrition