Edamame and Quinoa Salad (Printable)

Protein-packed grain bowl with edamame, quinoa, and crisp vegetables in bright citrus dressing.

# What You Need:

→ Grains and Legumes

01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 1 cup shelled edamame, fresh or frozen

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1/2 cucumber, diced
07 - 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
09 - 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped

→ Dressing

10 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
12 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Combine quinoa and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is tender. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
02 - Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add edamame and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until tender. Drain well and set aside to cool.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, add cooled quinoa, edamame, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, cucumber, red onion, parsley, and mint. Toss gently to distribute evenly.
04 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, rice vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until emulsified and smooth.
05 - Pour dressing over the salad mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge for a day making it perfect for meal prep
  • The protein from edamame and quinoa keeps you satisfied for hours without that heavy after meal feeling
02 -
  • Let the salad sit for at least 15 minutes before serving so the flavors have time to meld together properly
  • The quinoa absorbs dressing as it sits so you may want to reserve a little extra dressing to refresh leftovers the next day
03 -
  • Cut all your vegetables slightly larger than you think you need because they'll shrink a bit after being dressed
  • Make double the dressing and keep it in a jar in the refrigerator for quick salads all week long
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