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Home » Quinoa Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing

Quinoa Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing

February 13, 2013 By Diane Smith Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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I love quinoa! Although it’s served like rice, it’s actually not a grain and has 8 grams of protein per serving. You can always substitute it for rice and this Quinoa Salad with Peanut Dressing is a great crowd-pleaser.

Quinoa is so easy to prepare, as well, taking just 15 minutes to cook. I have several quinoa recipes including this quinoa pilaf recipe. There’s also these salad recipes, Quinoa Salad with Spinach and Quinoa Salad with Mango Dressing.

Quinoa Salad Peanut Dressing

Sometimes, vegan, plant-based eaters feel that they should only eat veggies and fruits, but eating grains or quinoa helps fill you up and provide energy and help keep you satisfied.

Quinoa Salad Peanut Dressing

After cooking the quinoa, you only need to chop the broccoli, red onion, and cucumber and open and drain a can of beans, which also add protein and you’re almost done with the recipe.

Quinoa Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing

I hope you’re willing to experiment a little as you can add other vegetables, too, like cherry tomatoes or cauliflower and you can mix up the greens, as well.

Add more whole grains to your meals with these recipes:

  • Green Goddess Grain Bowl
  • Whole Grain Muesli
  • Moroccan Chickpea Vegetable Tagine
Quinoa Salad Peanut Dressing

The dressing is quite strong by itself, but when you add it to this much quinoa salad, it is just right.

I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments below for this Quinoa Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing! If you have a photo, post it on my Facebook page, tag me using the hashtag #plantbasedcooking in your caption, and I won’t miss it!

This recipe is Plantricious Friendly because it meets the following guidelines.

"Cooking with Plantricious Friendly Guidelines" Seal

The Trusted Seal for
Plant-Based Nutrition

  • Must be whole food plant-based, contains no animal products
  • May be minimally processed
  • No added oil
  • No added sugars
  • No artificial additives or preservatives
  • *Plantricious Friendly foods may include but are not limited to condiments, fermented foods, soups, sauces, beverages, dressings, marinades, etc.
Quinoa Salad Peanut Dressing
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4.20 from 15 votes
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Quinoa Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing

This quinoa salad with peanut dressing is a great crowd-pleaser and a make-ahead salad to keep on hand for the week. Serve atop a lettuce salad or as a side for a burst of flavor.
Prep Time20 minutes mins
Cook Time15 minutes mins
Total Time35 minutes mins
Servings: 8 people

Equipment

  • Cutting board
  • Knife
  • Stainless Steel Pot Set
  • Glass Mixing Bowls with Lids
  • Whisk

Ingredients

  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/2 red onion chopped
  • 1/2 medium cucumber seeds removed and chopped 1/4″
  • 1/2 cup black beans low sodium (or 1/2 cup homemade)
  • 1 medium carrot cut into julienne strips or grated
  • 1 stalk broccoli chopped 1/4″
  • 1 hand full of arugula chopped
  • ¼ cup cilantro mint, or basil chopped
  • 3 tbsp smooth peanut butter without salt
  • 3 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 3 tbsp low-sodium tamari (or low-sodium soy sauce)
  • ½ tsp hot red pepper flakes
  • 1 clove garlic minced
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Instructions

  • Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add quinoa and simmer briskly until quinoa is tender, about 15 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine peanut butter, vinegar, soy sauce, hot red pepper flakes, and garlic. Add enough hot tap water (about 2 tablespoons) to thin the mixture to sauce consistency.
  • When quinoa is ready, transfer it to the bowl, along with the veggies, arugula, and cilantro, and toss to combine. If the dressing seems too thick, add a little water to thin,
  • Refrigerated for 30 minutes to intensify the flavor.

Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Quinoa Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing
Amount per Serving
Calories
146
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
4.6
g
7
%
Saturated Fat
 
0.8
g
5
%
Cholesterol
 
0
mg
0
%
Sodium
 
253
mg
11
%
Carbohydrates
 
20.8
g
7
%
Fiber
 
3.8
g
16
%
Sugar
 
1.8
g
2
%
Protein
 
6.1
g
12
%
Vitamin A
 
250
IU
5
%
Vitamin C
 
26.4
mg
32
%
Calcium
 
40
mg
4
%
Iron
 
1.6
mg
9
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
The nutrition information is a rough estimate. Values will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it’s recommended that you calculate your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.
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Quinoa Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing

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