Quinoa Power Salad (Printable)

Fluffy quinoa paired with roasted vegetables, chickpeas, and creamy tahini-lemon dressing for a vibrant meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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

# Directions:

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 vegetables evenly on the baking sheet.
02 - Roast vegetables for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until tender and slightly caramelized. Allow to cool slightly.
03 - 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 let cool slightly.
04 - Whisk together tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, maple syrup or honey, minced garlic, salt, and water until smooth and creamy.
05 - In a large bowl, combine cooked quinoa, roasted vegetables, chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, and parsley. Drizzle with dressing and toss gently to combine.
06 - Serve warm or chilled, optionally garnished with additional parsley.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes better the next day, which means meal prep actually feels rewarding instead of tedious.
  • The tahini dressing is creamy and tangy without being heavy, making you feel full but not sluggish.
  • You can throw in whatever vegetables you have on hand and it somehow always works perfectly.
02 -
  • Don't undercook the quinoa or it'll taste slightly grainy—those 15 minutes plus the 5-minute rest are essential for fluffy, tender grains.
  • If your tahini dressing breaks or looks grainy, whisk in water one teaspoon at a time and it'll suddenly come together, which has saved me more times than I'd like to admit.
03 -
  • Make extra dressing because you'll want it on everything—roasted vegetables, grain bowls, even steamed broccoli become irresistible with this tahini-lemon magic.
  • If you find canned chickpeas have an off taste, soaking them briefly in water and rinsing thoroughly solves it almost every time.
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