This Zesty Quinoa Salad 🍅🍋🥗 includes sundried tomatoes, sliced almonds, and a burst of lemon for a salad that’s fast, EASY, and fresh! Lovely bright flavors and loads of texture in this clean-eating salad keeps you full and satisfied! Healthy never tasted so good! Tip – There’s no mayo, making this great for outdoor events or lunch boxes!
Table of contents
Zesty Quinoa Salad Recipe
I can’t believe something so healthy tastes so good. I’m normally indifferent to quinoa. I mean, it’s quinoa and usually not too earth-shattering. But I couldn’t stop eating this.
- It’s a fast, easy dish that’s ready in 20 minutes and packed with big flavors and so much texture.
- It happens to be accidentally vegan, gluten-free, with no added sugar, and very little oil or salt.
- There’s sweet yellow onion to boost the flavor, chewy and slightly sweet sun-dried tomatoes, sliced almonds for a satisfying crunch, and parsley to add color and a mild herb flavor.
- Apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and lemon zest really brighten up the dish up and beautifully complement the sun-dried tomatoes. I use dry rather than oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes to keep things healthier.
What’s in Zesty Quinoa Salad?
To make this accidentally vegan quinoa salad, you’ll need:
- Olive oil
- Yellow onion
- Quinoa – I use tri-color quinoa. While I don’t think it tastes much different than white quinoa, I like the added color, but use your favorite
- Water
- Apple cider vinegar
- Lemon juice and zest – Fresh lime juice and zest will also work
- Salt and pepper
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Fresh parsley (mint or basil are also great)
- Fisher Natural Sliced Almonds
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Easy Quinoa Salad
This is such an easy salad to make! It tastes more impressive than it really is to make!
Follow these simple straightforward directions for cooking the quinoa and combining the salad:
- Cook the onion in an oiled skillet until it softens.
- Add the dry quinoa to the skillet and toast for about 30 seconds before adding in the water, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Let the quinoa cook until all the liquid has been absorbed.
- Fluff with a fork, and transfer the cooked quinoa mixture to a large bowl.
- Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes, parsley, almonds, and lemon zest. Serve and enjoy!
What to Serve with a Zesty Quinoa Salad
Recipe FAQs
Yes, I actually prefer it! This quinoa and sun-dried tomato salad can be served warm and immediately or stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
The flavors develop over time and taste better a day or two after making it.
Yes, you can, but keep in mind that the more veggies you add to this cold quinoa salad, the more dressing you’ll need.
Finely chopped cauliflower or riced cauliflower, or very finely diced or shaved Brussels sprouts are two ideas and vegetables that come to mind. Red onion, bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber would also taste great.
I love to include black beans, garlic grilled chicken, or honey BBQ grilled shrimp to transform this side dish into a complete meal. Or, include red pepper flakes, fresh cilantro, green onions, fresh mint, or feta cheese for even more flavor.
Either! This vegan quinoa salad is great warm or cold. Since there’s no mayo, it’s a great option for lunch boxes, picnics, potlucks, and casual get-togethers.
Lemon, Sun-Dried Tomato, and Almond Quinoa Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- extra-large yellow onion, peeled and diced small
- 1 cup quinoa, I use tri-colored
- 1 ¼ cups water
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, zest the lemon before juicing it
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon pepper, or to taste
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, about 3 ounces, sliced thinly (I use dry rather than oil-packed but oil-packed may be drained and substituted)
- ½ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
- ½ cup sliced almonds
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest, or to taste
Instructions
- To a large skillet or saucepan, add the olive oil, onions, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until onions have softened and just begun to barely brown, about 7 minutes.
- Add the quinoa and stir it into the onions and let it toast for about 30 seconds.
- Add the water, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice (zest the lemon before juicing it), salt, pepper, reduce the heat to low, cover pan, and cook for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until all liquid has been absorbed. While it’s cooking, chop the remaining ingredients.
- Transfer quinoa to a large bowl and add the sun-dried tomatoes, parsley, almonds, lemon zest, and stir to combine.
- Taste, check for seasoning balance, and if necessary add more salt, pepper, or possibly a pinch of sugar if you prefer it sweeter to balance the acids, or a pinch of cayenne adds heat. Dish can be served warm and immediately or serve it chilled after a hour or so in the fridge.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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More Easy Quinoa Salad Recipes:
Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil Quinoa Salad (GF) — Trying to keep meals healthier and lighter? Make this easy, refreshing and satisfying salad!
Tabbouleh — Never had it? Think couscous or quinoa mixed with vegetables, herbs, lemon and olive oil! Easy, no cooking required, healthy, and packed with so much flavor! (Great for outdoor events because there’s no mayo!)
Spinach And Artichoke Quinoa Salad – All the flavors of classic spinach and artichoke dip are in this HEALTHY salad! The only thing that’s missing is tons of fat and calories! FAST, EASY, naturally gluten-free, vegetarian, and tastes DELISH!
Quinoa, Cherry, and Goat Cheese Salad – Healthy, EASY, and loaded with juicy cherries, tangy goat cheese, snap peas, mint, and more!! The PERFECT light yet satisfying salad with so many great flavors!
Garden Fresh Quinoa Salad – Loaded with everything fresh, light, healthy, and summery! Great for parties, potlucks, and lunch boxes because there’s no mayo! Make this easy and flavorful dish before summer disappears!
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad — This EASY quinoa salad is ready in 20 minutes with Mediterranean-inspired ingredients including chickpeas, Kalamata olives, artichokes, and goat cheese to give layers of flavor and texture in every bite! Naturally gluten-free and vegetarian!
Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad — A HEARTY salad that celebrates the flavors of fall including roasted Brussels sprouts and dried cranberries along with quinoa, chickpeas, spinach, and goat cheese! Perfect for lunch, a meatless main, or a HEALTHY side dish on your holiday table!
Twelve Superfood Salad — This superfood salad is packed with 12 superfoods! This is a great clean out the fridge meal and is easily customized to suit whatever you need to use up.
Skinny Mayo-Less Cabbage Salad (vegan, GF) – This healthy coleslaw isn’t coated with gobs of mayo and you won’t miss it!
Edamame Feta Salad – Fast, easy, healthy, and packed with bigtime texture and bold flavors! Easily adaptable based on what’s in your fridge! Healthy never tasted so good!
Avocado, Black Bean, and Corn Salad with Lime-Cumin Vinaigrette — Everything tastes better with avocado! Easy, healthy and tons of flavor!
Sweet and Sour Zucchini Corn Salad – Packed with big, bold flavors and tons of crunch! Healthy, light and not just another salad!
Green Powerhouse Salad with Sesame-Ginger Vinaigrette (vegan, GF) – Want to feel better, stronger, healthier? This salad does wonders!
Post is brought to you by Fisher. The recipe, images, text, and opinions expressed are my own. #ThinkFisher
I love this recipe. It’s the only way to make quinoa. I sometimes use 1/2 quinoa, 1/2 farro.
Thanks for the five star review and I’m so glad that you love this recipe and I agree it’s the only way to make quinoa! Also love that you sometimes do half with farro!
Love the recipe but the website is impossible to deal with. Too many pop ups and ads. It doesn’t respond to attempts to get to the instructions or even to print. I had to write it down. Very frustrating.
Hi Bev, ads are necessary to support my small business. If you want to go ad-free you certainly can.
https://www.averiecooks.com/plans/ad-free-membership/
Thanks for trying the recipe and glad you loved it!
I loved these various salad and cannot
wait to make one of them. They all look so delicious. Thank you for haring.
I loved these various salad and cannot
wait to make one of them. They all look so delicious. Thank you for haring.
You’re welcome and glad you’re enjoying the recipes!
great
great