Name: Veggie Quinoa Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 1 cup quinoa, rinsed; 1 cup frozen edamame or frozen peas, defrosted; 2 medium carrots, sliced thinly into rounds; 1 1/2 cups shredded purple cabbage; 2 scallions, sliced into rounds; 1/4 cup cilantro, rough chopped; 1/3 cup cashews or peanuts; 1/3 cup lemon juice; 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil; 3 tablespoons coconut aminos; 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard; 1 clove garlic, minced; 2 tablespoons finely minced ginger

Jump to Recipe

Veggie Quinoa Salad is a mix of fluffy quinoa, fresh crunchy vegetables and a lemon ginger vinaigrette! A healthy salad that is perfect for meal prep.

Hearty, crunchy and ultra satisfying, this quinoa salad has it all!

Fluffy quinoa paired with crunchy cabbage and carrots, protein-rich edamame, fresh cilantro and scallions, all brought together by the zippy and fresh ginger lemon vinaigrette. A salad meal that is packed with fresh flavors, nutrients, and will leave you feeling energized and ready to tackle the day.

Reasons to love this recipe:

Perfect for meal prep! Make a batch on Sunday and you have a hearty salad meal all week long. As it sits in the fridge, the dressing soaks into the salad imparting more and more flavor!
It’s a simple and adaptable recipe. Use whatever crunchy veggies you have on hand to make this salad your own.
Each modest serving has 8 grams of plant based protein!

What ingredients are in Veggie Quinoa Salad?

The ingredients are both simple and adaptable, making this salad a staple!

Quinoa – I used white; red would be great too!
Frozen edamame – or frozen peas
Carrots
Red cabbage – any color and variety will do.
Scallions
Cilantro – I have been known to go rogue and double the cilantro in this recipe.
Roasted cashews – salted peanuts are also delicious!

And for the dressing:

Lemon juice – or try it with lime instead
Extra virgin olive oil – or grapeseed, avocado, etc.
Coconut aminos – there isn’t a great swap for this one. Coconut aminos have a unique sweet umami flavor without the salinity of tamari or soy sauce.
Dijon mustard
Garlic
Ginger

How do you cook quinoa?

These are my steps for ultra fluffy quinoa!

Rinse 1 parts quinoa in a fine mesh colander – this removes any bitter notes.

Place in a pot and cover with 2 parts water. Brung the mixture to a simmer, cover, and cook until all the water has absorbed, about 15-18 minutes.

Turn off the heat, remove the lid, and place a clean kitchen towel over the top of the pot. Place the lid on top of this and let the quinoa sit for 10 minutes. This helps it get nice and fluffy.

Give it a fluff with a fork and voila! Perfect quinoa!

How do you make Veggie Quinoa Salad?

Start by preparing your quinoa.

While the quinoa cooks, chop the veggies and whisk together the dressing. Toss everything together in a bowl and place in the fridge for 4 hours to allow the flavors to develop. Enjoy!