Well-known Thai-Impressed Quinoa Salad | Formidable Kitchen

This attractive Thai quinoa salad recipe was initially posted in 2013, the yr I met my now-husband. I don’t wish to change this publish an excessive amount of as a result of frankly, I wish to maintain the written recollections right here about our first date. It’s so candy.

What I did change about this recipe have been the images, ideas, and methods to make it gluten free & vegan. Whoo hoo!

For these of you who don’t know, this recipe is among the hottest recipes on Formidable Kitchen!

So with out additional ado, right here’s the story about how we first met:

I simply acquired again from trip in Arizona. I had so many enjoyable nights I can’t even start to inform you. The meals, the margs, using round in a crimson convertible, absorbing the sunshine, swimming at night time, baseball video games, Mexican meals, Froyo, plus a visit to Sprinkles cupcakes!

I wish to be on trip for the remainder of my life.

Humorous sufficient, I additionally went on a date throughout my journey! (Essentially the most random issues occur to me, I swear.) I met him by means of a pal and we hit it off. On our date, we went to the zoo, ate actually good Italian meals, and laughed hysterically. I don’t assume he reads my weblog, so for my part, it’s completely okay to speak about how candy he was.

FYI: I advised him in regards to the life-changing cookies and I believe he was offered.

Significantly you guys, I’ve to cease telling individuals in regards to the taste profile of brown butter and people freaking cookies; it’s simply too nerdy. Particularly on dates.

However however however! What I really want to do is to return to grips with actuality and settle for that there are not any extra margs or FroYo in my close to future. All I want in my life now is a beautiful wholesome salad.

You in?

Elements on this Thai-inspired quinoa salad

I really like that this salad can simply be vegan and gluten-free, and it’s extremely crunch-tastic (not a phrase, however ought to be). There’s a great deal of goodness right here: a number of veggies and a creamy peanut butter dressing with a touch of ginger is totally TO DIE FOR. Right here’s what you’ll have to make it:

• Quinoa: as you in all probability know by now, the bottom of this salad is made with nutritious, hearty quinoa. Considered one of my fav grains for salads!
• Veggies: this salad is SO colourful and loaded with shredded cabbage, crimson bell pepper, crimson onion, shredded carrots, cilantro & inexperienced onions.
• Nuts: I like so as to add further crunch with cashews or peanuts (particularly honey-roasted).
• For the dressing: that creamy peanut dressing is made with all pure peanut butter, recent ginger, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil & olive oil. I really like Wild Pals peanut butter, and you should use the code ‘AMBITIOUS15’ for 15% off!

Ultimately, the elements all meld collectively completely and in some way the salad simply works fantastically — plus it’s filling too! If you wish to make this an entire meal otherwise you’re craving extra, I counsel including edamame or chickpeas.

Oh and like just about the whole lot else on this weblog, I adore it from the underside of my coronary heart. Duh.

Customise this Thai quinoa salad

Have enjoyable customizing this salad together with your fav elements or ones you’ve available!

• Select your veggies: you’ll be able to actually use any veggies you’ve lurking in your fridge. Chopped broccoli or shredded brussels sprouts can be good in right here.
• Hold it vegan: merely use agave or pure maple syrup as an alternative of the honey in your dressing.
• Attempt a brand new grain: I believe this salad can be beautiful with couscous, orzo, farro, or rice noodles!
• Go grain free: you might additionally swap the quinoa for kale, or double up the veggies to make it a hearty, grain free salad.

Trying so as to add a lift of protein?

This Thai quinoa salad is the proper base to your fav meat or plant-based proteins. Right here’s what I counsel:

The perfect Thai quinoa salad in 4 easy steps

1. Prepare dinner the quinoa. Begin by cooking your quinoa till it’s good and fluffy. Set it apart to chill when you make the dressing.
2. Make the dressing. Warmth the peanut butter and honey within the microwave so that you could simply combine them, then whisk in the remainder of the dressing elements till it’s good and easy.
3. Costume the quinoa. Toss a bit of little bit of the dressing together with your cooled quinoa in order that it began to soak up the flavors effectively. Then fold in all your veggies and toss with the remainder of the dressing.
4. Garnish & serve. Prime the salad with cashews and further inexperienced onions, then serve with a squeeze of lime juice and luxuriate in!

Tips on how to cook dinner the proper fluffy quinoa

Get all of my finest ideas and tips for cooking completely fluffy quinoa right here!

Storing ideas

Hold this vegan Thai quinoa salad in an hermetic container within the fridge for about 3-4 days. This salad can simply be made the day earlier than, too, and can be scrumptious served the subsequent day!

So sure, my husband and I met whereas I used to be on trip. Every week later, he requested me to ship him the life-changing cookies, and now almost 5 years later, we’re married. Cute story, huh?

Extra wholesome salad recipes you’ll love

Get all of my salad recipes right here!

Should you make this Thai quinoa salad recipe, you’ll want to depart a remark beneath and charge the recipe! You can too snap and movie and publish it on Instagram utilizing the hashtag #ambitiouskitchen. And naturally you’ll want to comply with Formidable Kitchen on Instagram. xo!

Crunchy Cashew Thai Quinoa Salad {vegan, gluten-free}

Crunchy, flavorful Thai-inspired quinoa salad full of rainbow veggies and tossed in a creamy peanut ginger dressing. This straightforward Thai quinoa salad is scrumptious as-is and nice for customizing together with your favourite proteins! Excellent for meal prep lunches, picnics or events. This salad is a crowd-pleaser!

Elements

• ¾
  cup
  raw quinoa
• 2
  cups
  shredded crimson cabbage, relying on how a lot crunch you want
• 1
  crimson bell pepper, diced
• 1/4
  cup
  diced crimson onion
• 1
  cup
  shredded carrots
• ½
  cup
  chopped cilantro
• ¼
  cup
  diced inexperienced onions
• ½
  cup
  cashew halves or peanuts (honey-roasted is sweet)
• Non-obligatory: 1 cup edamame or chickpeas
• Contemporary lime, for a little bit of tang
• For the dressing:
• ¼
  cup
  all pure peanut butter
• 2
  teaspoons
  freshly grated ginger
• 3
  tablespoon
  gluten-free soy sauce or coconut aminos
• 1
  tablespoon
  honey (use agave or pure maple syrup if vegan)
• 1
  tablespoon
  rice vinegar or crimson wine vinegar
• 1
  teaspoon
  sesame oil
• 1
  teaspoon
  olive oil or extra sesame oil
• Water to skinny, if obligatory

Directions

1. To cook dinner quinoa: In a medium saucepan, deliver 1 ½ cups of water to a boil. Add in quinoa and produce combination to a boil. Cowl, scale back warmth to low and let simmer for quarter-hour or till quinoa has absorbed the entire water. Take away from warmth and fluff quinoa with fork; place in giant bowl and put aside to chill for about 10 minutes. You must have a bit of over 2 cups of quinoa.

2. To make dressing: Add peanut butter and honey or agave to a medium microwave secure bowl; warmth in microwave for 20 seconds. Add in ginger, soy sauce, vinegar, and each sesame and olive oil and stir till combination is easy and creamy. If you’d like a thinner dressing, merely stir in a teaspoon or two of water or olive oil.

3. Add as a lot or as little dressing as you’d wish to the quinoa. I all the time begin out with a bit of little bit of dressing and often add extra to swimsuit my style preferences. Alternatively it can save you the dressing for later and add when you’re able to eat; nevertheless the flavors of the dressing often soak into the salad so I really like including it to the quinoa first.

4. Subsequent fold in crimson pepper, onion, cabbage, carrots, and cilantro into the quinoa. Garnish with cashews and inexperienced onions. Serve chilled or at room temperature with lime wedges, if desired.

Recipe Notes

See the total publish for ideas, tips & methods to customise this salad!

To retailer: retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for about 3-4 days. This salad can simply be made the day earlier than, too, and can be scrumptious served the subsequent day!

Diet

Servings: 6 servings

Serving measurement: 1 serving

Energy: 260kcal

Fats: 13.5g

Carbohydrates: 27.7g

Fiber: 4.3g

Sugar: 7g

Protein: 8.6g

This publish was initially revealed on April eleventh, 2019, and republished on February ninth, 2023.