Quinoa Power Salad (Printable Copy)

Fluffy quinoa combined with roasted vegetables, chickpeas, and zesty tahini-lemon dressing for a wholesome dish.

# What You Need:

→ 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 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)
19 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

# How to Make:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of warm roasted vegetables and cool fluffy quinoa creates this perfect texture contrast
  • You can prep everything ahead and it actually tastes better the next day
02 -
  • Do not skip rinsing the quinoa unless you want an unpleasant bitter aftertaste in every bite
  • The tahini dressing might look curdled at first but keep whisking and it will emulsify into a smooth cream
03 -
  • Let the roasted vegetables and quinoa cool almost completely before combining them
  • Taste the dressing before adding it and adjust the lemon or salt to your preference
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