This is the BEST quinoa salad with Chickpeas. Packed with colorful vegetables, wonderful pomegranate, protein-rich chickpeas, a load of cilantro, and roasted walnut makes it as a meal than as a side with crunch, flavor, and nutrition.
It’s a Vegan salad and great for weight loss. This is a no-oil salad recipe. When salads are for diet needs then I strongly recommend using homemade dressings or any low-calorie dressings. Salad dressings are the culprit to raise the calorie level of the salad.
Benefits of the ingredients (source)
Chickpeas As a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Additionally, they are high in protein.
Quinoa: Quinoa is also a good source of potassium, which you need for muscle and protein building. It offers minerals and vitamins.
Cucumber Low in calories and high in nutrients. It contains antioxidants
Vegetables contain minerals, vitamins, and nutrients.
Pomegranate Pomegranates have anti-viral, and anti-tumor properties, and contain vitamins and minerals including calcium, Potassium, Zinc, as well as antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E.
Walnut Rich in Antioxidants, Super Plant Source of Omega-3s. Promotes a Healthy Gut.
How to make Flavorful Quinoa salad?
- Cooking Quinoa the quinoa has to be fluffy, if it contains more water then you will not be able to use it for salad. I have used vegetable stock to cook quinoa, which definitely adds flavor to the quinoa.
- Choosing vegetables Try the combination of crunchy and soft vegetables to add texture and color to the salad. Do not use the same color vegetables. To add a sweet taste to the quinoa I have added Pomegranate.
- Beans Use canned beans or home-cooked beans.
- Nuts I have added roasted walnut. Any dry fruits or seeds can be added to get more nutrition.
- Herbs Cilantro brings a lot of flavor to the salad.
- The dressing I didn’t use any dressing here, other than pepper, salt, and lemon juice. You can try adding pineapple dressing. You can add any infused olive oil too.
Variations
For vegetables red color pepper or corn can be used, for fruit apples or any berries can be included. In beans try adding red kidney beans or pinto beans. you can use cranberries or toasted almonds in Nuts. While choosing beans and vegetables make sure you don’t repeat the same color. Herbs parsley, rosemary, basil, or any herbs can be used. Since rosemary and basil have a strong flavor, reduce the quantity.
The other salad recipes you can check
Thai Pineapple & Cucumber salad In wonton Cups
Green papaya salad | Vegan som tum
Colorful Russian salad with Greek yogurt
How to Meal prep the salad?
Boil quinoa, mix vegetables and mix the lemon juice, pepper. The dressing will soak in the salad and amplify the flavor. Can be refrigerated for 2-3 days. While serving/packing warm it and add salt. Do not add salt and refrigerate it.
Quinoa salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2 cups vegetable stock
- 1 cup English cucumbers peeled and chopped
- 1/2 cup carrots diced
- 1 cup chickpeas canned or cooked
- 1/4 cup green bell peppers chopped
- 1 cup pomegranate seeds
- 6 grape tomatoes halved
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- pepper and salt to taste
- 1/4 cup toasted walnuts chopped
Instructions
- Bring the vegetable stock to heat. While boiling add quinoa and salt. Cook till soft and tender.
- In a wide bowl, add the boiled quinoa, cucumber, carrots, chickpeas, green bell pepper, pomegranate, tomatoes, cilantro, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Toss well. Before serving add the roasted walnuts to hold the crunch.
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