Actually Good Quinoa Salad

Large white plate with quinoa salad, pickled onion and vegan feta.

4.97 from 154 votes

This Actually Good Quinoa Salad is no ordinary quinoa salad. Featuring toasted quinoa tossed with marinated chickpeas and seasonal vegetables, it’s a textural feat with layers of complex, mouth-watering flavors! It’s still quick and easy to make, and perfect for lunches, weeknight dinners, picnics, and potlucks.

Cook Time50

Total Time50

Course: Dinner, Lunch, Side Dish

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings: to 6

Author: Nisha Vora

Ingredients

1 cup (180g) uncooked quinoa
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided

1 pound (450g) Vegetables (pick 2 or 3; see Note 1)

Spring: asparagus, snap peas, fennel (early spring)
Summer: sweet cherry/grape tomatoes, halved
Fall: any winter squash
Winter: fennel, broccoli or cauliflower or Brussels sprouts

Marinated Chickpeas

1 (15-ounce/425g) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 medium shallot, finely diced (or ¼ cup / 30g finely diced red onion)
1 medium lemon, zested + 2 tablespoons juice (more juice for the end)
1 1/2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses (or aged balsamic vinegar, see Note 2)
1 big handful (1 cup / 16g) of flat-leaf parsley leaves (or basil or dill, depending on vegetable used), chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed with a press or grated finely
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly cracked black pepper
¼ teaspoon red pepper flake (optional for a touch of heat)
1/2 cup (70g) roasted almonds and/or pistachios, chopped (optional; see Note 3 for nut-free)

Optional mix-ins

½ cup (60g) vegan feta, crumbled
Something pickled, like pickled onions
A big handful of sweet cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered

Instructions

Bring 1 ¼ cups of water (300 mL) to a boil. Meanwhile, rinse the quinoa in a fine mesh sieve under cool running water.
Once the water is boiling, add the rinsed quinoa and a pinch of salt. Reduce the heat to low and cook, covered, until the liquid has evaporated and quinoa is tender, about 12 minutes. Open the pot and fluff with a fork. Transfer quinoa to a sheet pan and spread out in an even layer. Allow to cool somewhat.
Preheat the oven to 425ºF/218ºC. Arrange a rack in the bottommost and in the top third of the oven.
Meanwhile, slice your vegetables (see Note 1).
Spread the vegetables out on a sheet pan in a single layer as much as possible. Drizzle with about 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
a. If the quinoa is not done yet, start on the chickpeas (step 8).
To the cooked quinoa on the other sheet pan, toss with 1 ½ tablespoons oil and ½ teaspoon kosher salt. Mix with your hands to coat. Spread out with as little overlap as possible.
Roast the quinoa and veggies: Transfer the vegetables to the bottom rack and quinoa to the upper rack. After 15 minutes, toss the quinoa (no need to toss veggies). Continue baking, checking the quinoa every 5 minutes until the quinoa is crispy and golden brown in spots and the vegetables are tender and browned in spots (they both should take about 25 minutes).
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the chickpeas, shallot, 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil, lemon zest and 2 tablespoons juice, pomegranate molasses, herbs, garlic, salt, pepper to taste, and red pepper flakes if using. Toss well and set aside to marinate for 10 minutes or longer. Toss a few times.
Add the roasted vegetables, toasted quinoa, and toasted nuts to the marinated chickpeas. Gently toss. Crumble in the feta if using and sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. Before serving, squeeze a little lemon juice on top if you have leftover lemon from the marinated chickpeas.

Video

Notes

General note: The prep time says 0 minutes because you’ll prep while other things are cooking (e.g., you’ll slice the vegetables while the quinoa cooks, you’ll marinate the chickpeas while the vegetables and quinoa roast).

Note 1

Asparagus: trim ends and cut into one-inch pieces.
Snap peas: keep whole.
Fennel: cut the bulb in half lengthwise, then cut crosswise into ⅓ inch slices (keep fronds for garnish).
Cherry tomatoes: halved.
Winter squash: Cube into bite-size pieces or thinly slice.
Broccoli or cauliflower: small-medium sized florets.
Brussels sprouts: small ones, halved; larger ones, quartered.

Note 2

My favorite pomegranate molasses brand is Al Wadi 100% natural. Find it directly from Amazon.com (affiliate link) or OliveNation.com. Or, if you have a Middle Eastern market near you, you’ll find options there too. You can substitute it with a good-quality aged balsamic vinegar instead. Start with just 1 tablespoon, give it a taste, then add more as needed.

Note 3

Sub with toasted pepitas or sunflower seeds; no need to chop. If raw, toast them first. Add to a dry frying pan over medium heat. Toast, stirring occasionally, until nutty and a few shades darker, 4 to 5 minutes.

Nutrition