Healthy Vegan Quinoa Salad Recipe

Introduction: Looking for a healthy vegan recipe that is both delicious and nutritious? Try our simple yet satisfying quinoa salad. This dish requires minimal ingredients but offers maximum flavor, making it perfect for lunch or dinner.

Ingredients Needed:

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 cucumber, sliced
• ½ avocado, cubed
• 1 small red onion, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Rinse the quinoa under cold water. In a saucepan, combine 1 cup of rinsed quinoa with 2 cups of water. Bring it to a boil over high heat.

2. Cover the pot and reduce heat to low. Let the mixture simmer for about 15 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed. Once done, remove from heat and let the quinoa cool down in the pot covered with a lid.

3. Once the quinoa has cooled, mix it with diced red bell pepper, cucumber slices, chopped red onion, cubed avocado, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix gently to combine all ingredients.

Cooking Time: 20 minutes (15 minutes for cooking quinoa + 5 minutes for mixing)

Servings: 4 servings

Tips and Variations:

• You can add some black beans or chickpeas to the salad for extra protein.
• For a more tropical flavor, try adding mango instead of cucumber.
• If you prefer a sweeter dish, sprinkle some paprika over the top before serving.

Cooking Method:

The cooking method is quite straightforward. Start by rinsing your quinoa thoroughly under cold water to remove any saponin, which can give it an off-taste. Then simply cook the grain according to standard instructions—boil with double its volume of water until tender.

Once the quinoa has cooled, you have a versatile base for this salad. Add whatever vegetables and fruits appeal to you most at that time of year. We recommend using fresh produce whenever possible but if you're short on time or want to stretch your meal further, consider frozen options like corn kernels or peas.

To add flavor, citrus is always welcome—lemon juice being our favorite choice here—but lime works too depending on personal preference. For extra richness and creaminess, puree some avocado into the dressing before mixing in the cooled quinoa along with other fresh ingredients such as tomatoes, bell peppers, or even finely chopped herbs like parsley.

Make sure to season generously with salt and pepper after combining all components of your salad together. This will enhance its natural flavors without overpowering them. A squeeze of lime juice adds brightness while also acting as a preservative against oxidation caused by air exposure.

Nutritional Value:

This healthy vegan quinoa salad provides approximately 195 calories per serving, with only 3 grams of fat and no cholesterol. It’s packed full of essential nutrients including fiber, magnesium, iron, folate, vitamin E, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, copper, and selenium. Quinoa contains all nine essential amino acids making it a complete protein source suitable for vegetarians.

Since this dish is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, and soy-free due to the use of only whole foods ingredients like quinoa, bell peppers, cucumbers, onions, avocados, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, etc., it makes an ideal choice for various dietary restrictions.

Conclusion:

A healthy vegan quinoa salad is not just a great way to enjoy nutritious meal; but also provides an easy and quick solution when you need something delicious yet wholesome on the go. Whether served cold or slightly warm, this dish can be enjoyed year-round as part of your regular diet. Try it out today and see how much satisfaction and variety one simple recipe can bring into your daily life!