Sesame Mandarin Quinoa Salad with Citrus Ginger Dressing

Happy Thursday! The week is flying by — how is your healthy eating plan going? I’m excited to share a salad I’ve been making nonstop lately. It’s fresh, light, and easy to keep on hand for snacking or a quick meal.

On a recent shopping trip I bought a large bag of Bob’s Red Mill quinoa at Costco and set out to find a tasty way to use it. This cold quinoa salad turned out to be the winner. Quinoa cooks quickly (about 12 minutes) and has a texture similar to couscous but offers more nutrients. I keep this salad in the fridge and nibble on it throughout the day — it’s practically guilt free and incredibly satisfying.

You can find quinoa at most health food stores or larger supermarkets. Give this recipe a try and let me know how it turns out.

Sesame Mandarin Quinoa Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 cup uncooked Bob’s Red Mill organic whole grain quinoa
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sugar substitute (such as Splenda)
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• Pinch of kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
• 1/2 cup sweet peppers, chopped (small mild peppers work well)
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions (green parts only)
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1 cup mandarin oranges (peeled segments)

Directions:

1. Cook the quinoa according to package directions. Once cooked, transfer it to a large bowl and let it cool to room temperature.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sugar substitute, sesame oil, salt, and pepper until well combined.
3. Pour the dressing over the cooled quinoa and stir to combine.
4. Add the chopped sweet peppers, green onions, parsley, crumbled feta, and mandarin oranges. Toss gently to distribute the ingredients evenly.
5. Refrigerate the salad until chilled and ready to serve. This keeps well for several days and makes a great make-ahead lunch or side.

Serves: 4

Sesame Mandarin Quinoa Salad

Sesame Mandarin Quinoa Salad is a refreshing cold salad perfect for lunch or a light dinner. The combination of quinoa, sweet mandarin oranges, crisp veggies, and tangy dressing is bright and satisfying.

Course:
Lunch, Dinner

Cuisine:
American

Prep Time
5 mins

Cook Time
10 mins

Total Time
15 mins

Servings:
4

Calories:
442kcal

Ingredients

• 1 cup Bob’s Red Mill organic whole grain quinoa, uncooked
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sugar substitute (such as Splenda)
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• Pinch of kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper
• 1/2 cup sweet peppers, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions (green parts)
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1 cup mandarin oranges

Instructions

• Prepare quinoa according to package directions. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool.
• Whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sugar substitute, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Pour the dressing over the cooled quinoa and mix well.
• Fold in the sweet peppers, green onions, parsley, feta, and mandarin oranges. Chill before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 442 kcal | Carbohydrates: 37 g | Protein: 8 g | Fat: 30 g

Keywords:
citrus quinoa salad, healthy quinoa salad, quinoa mandarin salad