Quinoa Power Salad (Printable)

Fluffy quinoa blends with roasted veggies, chickpeas, and tahini-lemon dressing for a vibrant, nourishing meal.

# Components:

→ 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 ground 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 dressing)
19 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

# Method:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's filling enough to be a real meal, not just rabbit food pretending to be lunch.
  • Everything tastes better when it cools, so you can prep it ahead and eat it for days without guilt.
  • That tahini dressing is genuinely addictive—I've caught myself eating spoonfuls straight from the bowl.
02 -
  • Tahini can seize up and become grainy if you don't whisk constantly while adding water—work slowly and stay patient with it.
  • Don't dress this salad until you're ready to eat it; the acidic dressing will gradually soften the quinoa if it sits too long, which is fine if you like it tender but not ideal if you prefer texture.
03 -
  • Make your dressing in a mason jar and shake it instead of whisking—it emulsifies better and you can store it right there for days.
  • Roast your vegetables the night before if you want to skip the oven on busy days; they're actually better served at room temperature anyway.
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