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Thai Quinoa Crunch Salad

Thai Quinoa Crunch Salad for a Nutritious Boost Anytime

Discover the vibrant and nutritious Thai Quinoa Crunch Salad, perfect for any occasion!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Chilling Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Salads
Cuisine: Thai
Calories: 250

Ingredients
  

For the Salad
  • 1 cup Quinoa Rinse before cooking
  • 1 Red Bell Pepper Can be swapped with yellow or orange peppers
  • 1 Cucumber Small Persian cucumbers preferred
  • 1 cup Shredded Carrots Can be swapped with julienned zucchini
  • 2 Green Onions Chives can be used as a substitute
  • 1 handful Fresh Cilantro Replace with parsley if preferred
  • 1/2 cup Chopped Peanuts Sunflower seeds for nut-free version
  • 2 tablespoons Sesame Seeds Can be omitted or replaced with pumpkin seeds
For the Dressing
  • 3 tablespoons Soy Sauce Use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari for gluten-free option
  • 1 Lime Juice Adjust to taste
  • 1 tablespoon Honey Use agave syrup or maple syrup for vegan option
  • 1 tablespoon Sesame Oil Use olive oil for a lighter option
  • 1 teaspoon Fresh Ginger Ground ginger works in a pinch
  • 1 clove Garlic Garlic powder is a substitute if fresh isn’t available
  • Salt and Pepper Adjust to personal taste

Equipment

  • medium saucepan
  • fine mesh strainer
  • Large Bowl
  • Small mixing bowl

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Rinse 1 cup of quinoa under cold running water for about 1-2 minutes, then let it drain.
  2. In a medium saucepan, combine rinsed quinoa with 2 cups of water, bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
  3. Chop 1 red bell pepper, 1 cucumber, shred 1 cup of carrots, slice 2 green onions, and chop a handful of fresh cilantro.
  4. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, the juice of 1 lime, 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, 1 teaspoon of grated ginger, and 1 minced garlic clove.
  5. In a large bowl, mix the cooled quinoa with prepared vegetables, adding in 1/2 cup of chopped peanuts and 2 tablespoons of sesame seeds.
  6. Pour the dressing over the combined ingredients and toss until evenly coated.
  7. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 8gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 700mgPotassium: 400mgFiber: 5gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 2mg

Notes

This salad is versatile; feel free to swap veggies or proteins based on what you have. Letting it chill enhances the flavor.

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