Lemon Quinoa Salad Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free Side Dishes)
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Jump to Recipe Watch VideoThis lemon quinoa salad recipe is packed with fresh vegetables and herbs in a simple lemon vinaigrette! It’s simple, delicious, and loaded with fresh ingredients.
This lemony quinoa salad is perfect for a summer pot puck, BBQ side dish, or an easy plant-based meal prep recipe. This recipe is vegan, vegetarian, and SO delicious. It’s a fantastic salad for everyone at your table.
This Lemon Quinoa Salad Recipe Is:
- Fresh
- Bright
- Citrusy
- Earthy
- Packed with fresh produce
- Versatile
- Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Refined Sugar Free
- A great recipe for vegan meal prep
The Perfect Vegetarian Summer Side Dish Recipe
This lemon quinoa salad couldn’t be easier to make! Just add cooked quinoa, veggies of your choice, some fresh herbs, and whip up a 5 minute lemon dressing. And lunch or dinner is served! This is a great salad to bring to a end-of-season potluck, it’s a total crowd pleaser.
One of my favorite vegan or vegetarian side dishes, and something everyone at the table will love. And you can make it ahead of time. Prepare the salad the day before the party, cover and refrigerate for a day. Before serving, toss with a little extra lemon juice and olive oil, and you’re all set.
What’s In This Lemon Quinoa Salad?
Be sure to visit the recipe card below for full ingredient amounts and recipe instructions!
- Quinoa: I used white quinoa, but you can use red or multicolored. You can cook quinoa on the stove top, in the Instant Pot (my preferred method), in the rice cooker. This quinoa is a fantastic addition to salads, soups, or wraps.
- Parsley
- Tomatoes
- Cucumber
- Lemon
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Dijon Mustard
- Garlic
- Black pepper & Sea Salt: I like to use a pink Himalayan Sea Salt in my kitchen.
How Do I Make This Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette?
- In a large bowl, combine cooked quinoa, chopped cucumber, tomatoes, and parsley. Toss well to combine.
- In a mason jar, add all the dressing ingredients: olive oil, fresh lemon juice, mustard, garlic salt, and garlic. Seal with an air right lid and shake well to combine.
- Pour dressing over the salad, and toss well. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more salt and pepper if desired.
Make Ahead Quinoa Salad for Entertaining
This lemony quinoa salad is a fantastic and simple recipe to make ahead. Great for a busy weeknight, for entertaining, or just for those nights when you don’t feel like cooking. I like to prep this salad of these ahead of time, and save it in the fridge for later.
Having ready cooked meals in the fridge is a great way to enjoy home cooked meals when you don’t have time in the kitchen. Check out all my make ahead meals on for some ideas to help you prep, keep, and eat!
Other Simple High Protein Salads You’ll Love:
Creamy Avocado Veggie Pasta Salad (Vegan, Gluten Free)
Black Eyed Pea Salad (Vegan, Gluten Free)
Vegan Apple Walnut Salad with Sweet Dijon Vinaigrette (Gluten Free)
French Lentil Salad with Cider Vinaigrette (Vegan, Gluten Free)
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Simple Lemon Quinoa Salad (Vegan, Gluten Free)
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 4 cups cooked quinoa *see video below for how to cook quinoa in a rice cooker.
- 1 cucumber diced
- 1 cup chopped tomatoes
- 1 cup chickpeas drained and rinsed
- 1 cup fresh parsley
For the Dressing
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 lemons juiced (about 1/3 cup lemon juice)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard or whole grain
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 2 cloves garlic pressed or finely minced
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine cooked quinoa, chopped cucumber, chickpeas, tomatoes, and parsley. Toss well to combine.
- In a mason jar, add all the dressing ingredients: olive oil, fresh lemon juice, mustard, garlic salt, and garlic. Seal with an air right lid and shake well to combine.
- Pour dressing over the salad, and toss well. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more salt and pepper if desired.
Video
Nutrition
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I’m always looking for a healthy way to eat. This fills the bill yummy
Delicious and hardy fare