These easy quinoa salad recipes are perfect for meal preparation! Choose from 5 flavours: Southwest, Curry, Mediterranean, Caprese or Green Goddess. They are full of protein and super healthy!
Making quinoa
Choose the type of quinoa you want to prepare. Before preparing the salad, you must first prepare the quinoa.
White quinoa is the most common to find in the store. It cooks until a slight, fluffy texture.
Black quinoa has an earthy flavour.
Red quinoa has the greatest nutritional value in the form of vitamins and minerals. The red quinoa ends up a little softer. It tastes like rich hazelnuts. This is the common choice for cold salads because it retains its texture so well.
There are also purple and orange varieties of quinoa, but they can be difficult to find in stock in most stores.
How to make quinoa salad (step by step)
Quinoa salad is quick and easy to make in large batches.
Put the quinoa and water in a saucepan on the stovetop. The quinoa/water ratio is 1:2. This means that for every cup of quinoa, you will need 2 cups of cooking liquid.
Cook quinoa for about 15 minutes, or until water is absorbed.
Before preparing the salad, let the quinoa cool for 30 minutes.
For an extra layer of flavor, you can also grill the quinoa before cooking it. Simply put it in a little olive oil over medium-high heat for a few minutes before adding water to the pan.
While your quinoa is cooling, go ahead and prepare all the other ingredients that will go into the salad.
Clean and chop vegetables
Mix liquid ingredients for dressing
Prepare all the proteins or meats you want to add
If you replace the ingredients and use softer fruits and vegetables or nuts, wait until the day you plan to eat the salad and add them to the top.
Why are quinoa salad recipes ideal for meal preparation?
Quinoa salad is an easy lunch to prepare in advance. It is normally consumed cold, so no worries if your office doesn't have microwaves. It holds remarkably well in storage. Therefore, you'll never have to worry about wilted or soggy lettuce with these nutritious salads!
Plus, with a large batch of cooked quinoa, you can create a whole week or even a month's meal, quickly and easily. Natural quinoa freezes beautifully and a fully prepared quinoa salad will last in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Quinoa salad is the perfect meal for a busy day. It is rich in protein and fibre. You'll feel full long after eating this salad. It also has a low glycemic index so it will not cause a spike in blood sugar. It has been proven to have cardiac and respiratory benefits as well.
Quinoa salad recipes
The following quinoa salad recipes will give you a place to start experimenting with combinations. To make these varieties, keep reading!
Southwest
Mediterranean
Quinoa curry salad
Caprese
Green Goddess
