Quinoa Power Protein Salad (Printable format)

Nutrient-packed quinoa paired with roasted vegetables, chickpeas, and a smooth tahini-lemon dressing.

# List of ingredients:

→ Grains & Legumes

01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
04 - 1 zucchini, diced
05 - 1 small red onion, chopped
06 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
07 - 2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Tahini-Lemon Dressing

10 - 1/4 cup tahini
11 - Juice of 1 large lemon
12 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
13 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
14 - 1 clove garlic, minced
15 - 2–3 tablespoons water (to thin, as needed)
16 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

17 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped
18 - 2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds (optional)

# How to make it:

01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Toss bell pepper, zucchini, red onion, and cherry tomatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on the baking sheet and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring halfway, until tender and caramelized.
03 - In a medium saucepan, combine quinoa with 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let sit covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
04 - Whisk together tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, maple syrup or honey, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Add water, one tablespoon at a time, until smooth and pourable.
05 - In a large bowl, combine cooked quinoa, chickpeas, roasted vegetables, and baby spinach. Drizzle with dressing and toss gently to combine.
06 - Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
07 - Serve salad sprinkled with fresh parsley or cilantro and toasted seeds, if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It's the rare salad that actually keeps you full, thanks to the chickpeas and quinoa working together like a quiet team.
  • Roasting the vegetables instead of serving them raw gives everything a sweetness that makes you want another bite.
  • The tahini-lemon dressing tastes creamy and indulgent, but it's honestly just whole foods doing their job.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the quinoa—it makes the difference between fluffy and sticky, and it only takes 30 seconds.
  • The dressing needs time to rest; if it seems too thick when you first make it, let it sit for a few minutes and it'll loosen up.
  • Roasting the vegetables instead of eating them raw changes the entire texture and taste in a way that's hard to overstate.
03 -
  • Toast your own seeds in a dry skillet for two minutes—they'll smell incredible and taste twice as good as store-bought.
  • Make extra dressing and keep it on hand; it's amazing drizzled over roasted vegetables, grain bowls, or even as a dip for crudités.
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