Thai Quinoa Salad with Peanut Dressing

Thai Quinoa Salad with Peanut Dressing is full of plant based mostly protein. You’ll love each drop of this wholesome, filling, flavorful dish!

Seize a serviette since you’re going to need to lick your bowl clear after the final chew of Thai Quinoa Salad with Peanut Dressing! Between the spoon-drink-worthy peanut dressing, and the contemporary and wholesome components its drizzled on prime of, this salad is an absolute dream to eat from first style to, nicely, don’t say I didn’t warn you about how this consuming expertise goes to finish. 😉

Thai Quinoa Salad is the proper transition meal from heavy consolation meals into mild and springy dishes, although the mix of flavors, textures and components are so scrumptious you’ll be making this dish all 12 months spherical.

Quinoa and Lettuce Primarily based Salad

Over the previous few months I’ve been working with a buddy of mine who’s a dietitian on making a recipe book for her purchasers, and thru that course of I’ve been re-introduced to quinoa. Quinoa is technically a seed however as soon as it’s ready you eat it like a grain – just like rice, for instance. Quinoa is just not solely gluten free however full of protein and different vitamins like fiber, folate, magnesium, zinc, and iron.

They don’t name it an excellent meals for nothing!

I used to eat quinoa always a few years in the past (right here’s all my quinoa recipes!) however fell out of the behavior someplace alongside the way in which. Already lengthy story brief, my buddy Kim and I created just a few salad recipes for her book that pair quinoa with lettuce for a protein and diet enhance, and the idea is completely rocking my world!

Thai Quinoa Salad with Peanut Dressing

In Thai Quinoa Salad with Peanut Dressing, cooked then cooled quinoa is mixed with lettuce plus plenty of contemporary and crunchy herbs and greens, then drizzled with my signature Peanut Dressing. If you happen to’ve tried this recipe earlier than then you know the way INSANELY scrumptious this dressing is.

The result’s a salad that eats like a real meal, and severely, actually, it would be best to lick your bowl clear on the finish. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Substances Wanted

• Quinoa: I like Bob’s Crimson Mill quinoa which I cook dinner in rooster or vegetable broth for max taste. No matter model you purchase, make certain the bundle says “pre rinsed” as quinoa has a bitter coating that must be rinsed off previous to cooking. You’ll find quinoa at just about any grocery retailer today.
• Lettuce: Use no matter you’ve received within the fridge – spring combine, child spinach, romaine – no matter!
• Crimson bell pepper: Crimson bell pepper brings taste, crunch, and coloration to this salad.
• Shredded carrots: I purchase a bag of pre-shedded carrots each week as a result of they’re really easy and handy so as to add to soups, stir fries, and salads.
• Edamame: Edamame provides plant-based protein to this salad. I hold a bag of frozen shelled natural edamame readily available always to toss into stir fries, or thaw in a bowl of water so as to add to salads.
• Inexperienced onions: Inexperienced onions present a pleasant crisp zip to the salad.
• Peanuts: Minced peanuts add extra craveable taste and crunch to this quinoa salad.
• Contemporary cilantro: Chopped cilantro brings a burst of freshness to every bites, plus it pairs tremendous nicely with the peanut dressing.
• Peanut Dressing: Raid the cabinets for the on a regular basis components wanted to shake up this simple but thoughts blowing dressing. It should instantly develop into your new favourite salad dressing!

Make As soon as, Eat Twice

The recipe for Thai Quinoa Salad makes sufficient for 2 massive salads so it’s nice for meal prep. Eat one serving for lunch, then pack the second serving in a glass dish, or layer the components in a mason jar (lettuce on prime), and drizzle with dressing simply earlier than serving a day or two later.

Serve it as a Facet

Thai Quinoa Salad additionally makes for a wonderful aspect dish to pair with grilled or rotisserie rooster, or shrimp, specifically. Actually, the leftover dressing is fabulous drizzled over any cooked, sizzling protein.

SO wholesome, SO scrumptious, let’s get to it!

The right way to Make the Salad

Begin by cooking quinoa in rooster broth or vegetable broth for max taste, or just in water. Comply with the bundle instructions, however typically you’ll add quinoa and liquid in a 1:2 ratio, respectively, to a pot then deliver to a boil, place a lid on prime, flip the warmth right down to low, and simmer for 10-Quarter-hour. Fluff with a fork and voila — cooked quinoa!

Let the quinoa cool barely — you can also make it as much as a number of days forward of time.

When it’s time to eat, add the cooked quinoa to a bowl with combined greens, shelled edamame, inexperienced onions, contemporary cilantro, pink bell peppers, shredded carrots, and minced peanuts. 

The right way to Make the Peanut Dressing

Subsequent combine up the Peanut Dressing. This recipe will make sufficient to generously coat two salads with a bit leftover. Use it to decorate different salads, or dunk into with contemporary veggies, sauteed rooster, or grilled shrimp. Or, like I stated, seize a spoon…

To a jar with a good becoming lid, or bowl, add:

• Peanut butter
• Honey (or pure maple syrup to maintain the recipe vegan)
• Gluten free Tamari (or soy sauce — dish is not going to be gluten-free if utilizing conventional soy sauce)
• Rice vinegar
• Toasted sesame seeds
• Sesame oil
• Floor ginger
• Contemporary garlic cloves
• Contemporary lime juice
• Salt and pepper
• Scorching water

Shake or whisk the dressing till it’s easy and creamy. Achieved!

Drizzle the quinoa salad with the peanut dressing then add a squeeze of contemporary lime juice, if you happen to please, and dig in. Oh my gosh, I’m telling you that is the most contemporary, most flavorful salad of your life. SO GOOD! Take pleasure in, take pleasure in!

Extra Wholesome and Filling Salad Recipes

Thai Quinoa Salad with Peanut Dressing

Description

Thai Quinoa Salad with Peanut Dressing is full of plant based mostly protein! You’ll love each drop of this wholesome, filling, flavorful dish!

Substances

• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 2 massive handfuls combined greens OR child spinach
• 1/2 pink bell pepper, chopped or thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup shredded carrots
• 1/2 cup shelled edamame
• 2 inexperienced onions, chopped
• 3 Tablespoons peanuts, minced
• handful contemporary cilantro, chopped
• For the Peanut Dressing:
  • 1/4 cup peanut butter
  • 2 Tablespoons honey
  • 1-1/2 Tablespoons gluten free Tamari
  • 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • heaping 1/4 teaspoon floor ginger
  • 1 giant or 2 small cloves garlic, pressed or minced
  • juice of 1/2 lime (different half sliced into wedges)
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons sizzling water

Instructions

1. For the Peanut Dressing: Add all components to a bowl or mason jar with a good becoming lid then whisk or shake nicely to mix. Put aside.
2. Divide remaining salad components between two bowls then drizzle with dressing and serve with lime wedges.

Notes

• Prepare dinner quinoa in rooster or vegetable broth to offer it extra taste.
• Be at liberty so as to add protein to bulk this salad up – I like sauteed or roasted shrimp, or shredded rotisserie rooster.

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Lady Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.

Images by Ashley McLaughlin