Bright, colorful and nutrient-packed, this super easy Quinoa Pomegranate Salad is the perfect dish to enjoy this fall. Serve it as a side, or make it a light lunch by adding your favorite protein!
Quinoa based salads are great for many reasons: they are hearty, they're filling, and they make a nutritious meal that is portable and easy to eat.
Technically not a grain, but a seed, quinoa is gluten free, high in protein, fiber, B vitamins, minerals (particularly iron and magnesium) and antioxidants. It's incredibly versatile and can be paired with pretty much anything!
Check out these recipes:
Cauliflower Quinoa Meatless Meatballs In Coconut Turmeric Sauce
Quinoa Stuffed Grape Leaves in Red Wine Sauce
Black bean, Quinoa & Delicata Squash Salad
Here we've combined quinoa with another superfood, pomegranate, to create this super tasty quinoa pomegranate salad. Pomegranate seeds are packed with fiber, vitamins and powerful antioxidants, and have incredible health benefits. They're considered one of the healthiest foods in the planet!
Getting the seeds out of a pomegranate (without squooshing them and making a bloody mess) can be tricky. Here's the method we use that works every time:
- Score the pomegranate horizontally down the middle. Gently twist both side to separate the halves.
- Fill a large bowl with water. Place one of the pomegranate halves on your hand, cut side down, and tap the top with a wooden spoon. The arils will fall out into the bowl, and the little pieces of yellow skin will come to the surface, so they can be easily removed.
- Repeat the process with the other half.
Enjoy it and Happy Fall!
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Quinoa Pomegranate Salad
- Total Time: 30
- Yield: 6 cups 1x
Description
Bright, colorful and nutrient packed, this super easy Quinoa Pomegranate Salad is the perfect dish to enjoy this fall. Serve it as a side, or make it a light lunch by adding your favorite protein!
Ingredients
1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
½ tsp salt
1 pomegranate, seeded ( about 1 cup pomegranate seeds)
6 scallions, sliced
2 Persian cucumbers, diced ( about 1 ½ cups diced)
1 medium apple, diced ( about 1 cup diced)
¼ cup toasted sliced almonds
Instructions
- Combine the rinsed quinoa, 1 ⅓ cups of water, and salt in a medium saucepan with a tight lid fit and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until all the water is absorbed
- Once the quinoa is ready, fluff it up with a fork, put the lid back on, and let it sit for 10 minutes
- Combine the cooked quinoa and the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl and toss well. Add the dressing and refrigerate until ready to serve
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 10
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 187
- Sugar: 8.4
- Sodium: 199
- Fat: 5.2
- Saturated Fat: 0.5
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.1
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 31
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 6
- Cholesterol: 0
Orange Tahini Dressing
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: ½ cup 1x
Description
Bright, colorful and nutrient packed, this super easy Quinoa Pomegranate Salad is the perfect dish to enjoy this fall. Serve it as a side, or make it a light lunch by adding your favorite protein!
Ingredients
3 tbsp orange juice
2 tbsp Tahini
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp lemon juice
¼ tsp salt
⅛ tsp black pepper
Instructions
Combine all the ingredients in a glass jar with a lid and shake well
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: 224
- Fat: 17
- Saturated Fat: 2.3
- Unsaturated Fat: 14
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 14.6
- Fiber: 2.7
- Protein: 5.5
- Cholesterol: 0
Raquel says
Pomegranates and tahini in salads are my favorite!! This seems like the perfect combination of sweet, salty, crunchy and hearty...yum!