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Simple Quinoa Salad

Name: Simple Quinoa Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups quinoa; 3 cups water; 1 large handful fresh cilantro; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 haas avocado; 1 drizzle honey or agave nectar (optional); 1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes; 1 lemon or lime

3 Ratings

17 Comments

Prep 20 min
Total 20 min
Servings 6

The name says it all. This perfectly constructed, simply delicious quinoa salad will never let you down. MORE+ LESS-

By TBSP Kari

Updated March 15, 2019

Ingredients

1 1/2

cups quinoa

cups water

large handful fresh cilantro

tablespoons olive oil

haas avocado

drizzle honey or agave nectar (optional)

1 1/2

cups grape tomatoes

lemon or lime

Steps

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1

First, rinse quinoa thoroughly in a small strainer. Bring 3 cups of water to a boil. Put quinoa in water and reduce heat to simmer. Cover and cook until all water is absorbed (10-15 minutes).
2

While the quinoa is cooking, halve your tomatoes and cut up your avocado and cilantro.
3

Once the quinoa is cooked, drizzle with olive oil and agave or honey and sprinkle with salt, pepper.
4

Stir up the quinoa to release some heat and bring to room temp.
5

Stir in avocado, tomato and cilantro, squeeze your citrus over this, toss and enjoy!

Expert Tips

Fun fact: Quinoa is known as “the mother grain” but technically it’s not a grain at all. It’s actually a tiny, tough little seed. Despite its tough exterior, cooked quinoa has a light, fluffy texture and a slightly nutty taste. Because quinoa is also very absorbent, it will take on whatever flavors it’s prepared with and for that reason, soaks up the fresh flavors of cilantro, tangy lemon, avocado and tomato in this basic quinoa salad beautifully. If the call for a drizzle of honey or agave nectar seems bizarre, try it and see what you think. We’ve found that a touch of sweetness is the perfect balance to the more acidic flavors in this easy quinoa salad.

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving

Calories: 250
Calories from Fat: 100

% Daily Value

Total Fat: 11g; 16%
Saturated Fat 1 1/2g 7% Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg; 0%
Sodium: 10mg; 0%
Potassium: 480mg; 14%
Total Carbohydrate: 32g; 11%
Dietary Fiber 5g 21% Sugars 4g
Protein: 7g

% Daily Value*:

Vitamin A: 10%; 10%
Vitamin C: 10%; 10%
Calcium: 4%; 4%
Iron: 15%; 15%

Exchanges:

2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 1/2 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 2 Fat;

Carbohydrate Choice

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

More About This Recipe

The hardest part about quinoa is pronouncing it. Pronounced keen-wah, quinoa is known as “the mother grain” and is technically not a grain at all but rather a tiny, tough, little seed. Despite its tough exterior, cooked quinoa has a light, fluffy texture and a slightly nutty taste. Because quinoa is also very absorbent, it will take on whatever flavors it’s prepared with and for that reason, soaks up the fresh flavors of cilantro, tangy lemon, avocado and tomato in this salad beautifully. If the call for a drizzle of honey or agave nectar seems bizarre, try it and see what you think. We’ve found that a touch of sweetness is the perfect balance to the more acidic flavors in this easy quinoa salad. Our other quinoa salads are just as vibrant and easy to prepare but if you’ve never made quinoa or need a refresher see our guide on how to cook quinoa.