southwest quinoa salad
This southwest quinoa salad is filled with fluffy quinoa, crunchy veggies, cilantro, avocado, cherry tomatoes and cumin-roasted chickpeas. Toss it with a spicy, creamy, cool jalapeño ranch dressing and get ready for the best summer lunches!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6
- Category: Salad
- Method: Tossed
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
roasted chickpeas
- 1 can chickpeas, rinsed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
southwest quinoa salad
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa (about 2 1/2 cups cooked), rinsed and drained
- 1 1/3 cups water
- kosher salt
- 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
- 1 cup shaved red cabbage
- 1 cup grated carrot (1 large carrot)
- 1 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/4 cup salted sunflower seeds
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 2 cups jalapeño ranch dressing
Instructions
roasted chickpeas
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Pat chickpeas dry with a clean dish towel, discarding any skins that come off.
- Transfer to prepared sheet pan and toss with olive oil, cumin, garlic, paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper. Roast for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, until crisp, dry and golden. Let cool to crisp up more.
southwest quinoa salad
- Toast quinoa in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until quinoa starts to pop continuously, turn golden brown and smell nutty, 5- 7 minutes.
- Stir in the water and 1/2 teaspoon salt, bring to a simmer, and cover. Reduce heat to low and simmer until grains are just tender and liquid is absorbed, 18- 20 minutes, stirring once halfway through cooking.
- Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff quinoa with fork, then set aside to cool.
- In a large serving platter or bowl, combine cooked and cooled quinoa, roasted chickpeas, corn, cabbage, carrots, cilantro, sunflower seeds, tomatoes and avocado.
- Drizzle with half the dressing and serve, passing extra dressing on the side.
Notes
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of salad (no dressing)
- Calories: 315
- Sugar: 6.2g
- Sodium: 596mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 1.7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11.2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Find it online: https://www.withspice.com/blog/southwest-quinoa-salad/