Zesty Quinoa Salad with Mint

Citrus flavors of lemon and lime paired with fresh, crisp veggies, garbanzo beans and chopped mint create one flavorful quinoa salad! Serve in the summertime for a crunchy side salad at your next BBQ or picnic or just enjoy as a filling snack thanks to the fiber and protein.

The Perfect Summer Quinoa Salad

One of my favorite summer flavor combinations is mint + citrus. They compliment each other so well! The refreshing mint with the bright citrus flavors makes anybody's taste buds jump for joy.

One of my favorite summer desserts is a citrus and mint sherbet. It's creamy and tart, yet has a refreshing hint of mint from a homemade mint syrup - so good! Add a little zest for a touch of texture and color and you got one heavenly summer dessert.

I could seriously make mint and citrus anything and love it!

Do you have a favorite summer flavor combo? Let me know below! I can always use inspiration for future recipes!

How to Cook Quinoa

If you're new to using quinoa, a key step to making it flavorful is cooking it in broth. Quinoa is very plain, so it needs some flavor boosters! In this recipe, we use vegetable broth to add flavor and salt.

The quinoa will take on the flavors of whatever it is mixed with, similar to tofu. So, the zesty citrus and mint will be noticeable.

Cooking Tips:

• Cook covered to allow the steam to help the quinoa cook quickly and absorb the liquid.
• You'll know the quinoa is done cooking when all the liquid is absorbed.
• Allow the quinoa to sit for a bit after cooking to finish absorbing the liquid.

Vegan with Plant-Based Protein

Quinoa is a great source of protein if you're vegan or don't eat much meat. Quinoa provides all the essential amino acids, which we need to get in our diet since our bodies can't produce them.

It's a great pantry staple to have on hand and use in a variety of ways from salads, wraps, soups and more. I love cooking up a pot of quinoa to have for the week ahead to bulk up meals with protein and nutrition.

So, if you're looking for a vegan salad with plant-based protein, this is it!

Recipe Instructions

Only a few steps and you got a delish Mediterranean quinoa salad!

Start by cooking the quinoa. While the quinoa cooks, chop up your veggies and mint. I use one small .5 oz containers of fresh mint.

For prep, it's easiest to add everything in a large mixing bowl before serving it up on a large platter. So add the chopped veggies and mint along with the cooked quinoa and drained garbanzo beans.

I like to zest the lemon and lime now, right before I'm about to juice them for the vinaigrette. So now just give your mixing bowl a good mix-up and move onto the vinaigrette!

Whisk together the oil, vinegar, garlic, lemon and lime juice, sugar, cayenne pepper. I love adding a pinch of cayenne! It adds just a touch of spice.

Taste for salt and pepper and mix the vinaigrette into the quinoa salad.

I like letting the salad sit in the refrigerator for an hour before serving to help the flavors blend together, but it's not necessary. Serve the salad chilled and give it a good stir if it's been sitting for a while to help get the flavors remixed.

Serving Suggestions

Pair this quinoa dish with my spinach and feta turkey burgers and fresh watermelon for a summer cookout - Mediterranean style!

In the summertime, I love easy and healthy salads that I can have already prepped to have throughout the week or take with me to gatherings. This zesty salad recipe is perfect for either option. The quinoa salad doesn't take long to put together, and it's super simple to throw together. Plus, it's packed with plant-based protein!