Quinoa Power Protein Salad (Print Version)

A vibrant mix of quinoa, chickpeas, roasted veggies, and tahini-lemon dressing perfect for a light, energizing meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains & Legumes

01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
04 - 1 zucchini, diced
05 - 1 small red onion, chopped
06 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
07 - 2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Tahini-Lemon Dressing

10 - 1/4 cup tahini
11 - Juice of 1 large lemon
12 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
13 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
14 - 1 clove garlic, minced
15 - 2 to 3 tablespoons water, to thin as needed
16 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

17 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped
18 - 2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds (optional)

# Cooking Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Toss diced bell pepper, zucchini, red onion, and cherry tomatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on the baking sheet and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender and caramelized.
03 - In a medium saucepan, combine quinoa and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
04 - Whisk together tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, maple syrup or honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Add water one tablespoon at a time until smooth and pourable.
05 - In a large bowl, combine cooked quinoa, chickpeas, roasted vegetables, and baby spinach. Drizzle with dressing and toss gently to combine.
06 - Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
07 - Serve salad sprinkled with fresh herbs and toasted seeds, if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It actually fills you up—the chickpeas and quinoa keep you satisfied for hours without the afternoon crash.
  • Everything tastes better the next day, so you can meal prep without sacrificing flavor.
  • The tahini dressing is so good you'll find yourself drizzling it on other things.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the quinoa or you'll end up with a bitter-tasting salad that no dressing can save.
  • The dressing comes together better when the tahini is at room temperature—cold tahini seizes up and won't whisk smoothly.
  • This salad tastes even better the next day after the flavors meld, so it's genuinely great for meal prep.
03 -
  • Make a double batch of the dressing and keep it in the fridge for up to five days—it's incredible on grain bowls, roasted vegetables, or even as a dip for vegetables.
  • If you're meal prepping, keep the dressing separate from the salad until you're ready to eat, and add the raw spinach just before serving so it stays fresh and vibrant.
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