Thai Quinoa Crunch Salad Recipe
A vibrant and refreshing Thai Quinoa Crunch Salad combining fluffy quinoa, fresh vegetables, crunchy peanuts, and a zesty sesame-soy dressing. Perfect as a light meal or side dish, this salad is nutritious, flavorful, and easy to prepare.
- Author: Elias
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling, Mixing, Chilling
- Cuisine: Thai
- Diet: Vegetarian
Quinoa
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
- 2 cups water
Vegetables
- 1 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup green onions, sliced
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Nuts and Seeds
- 1/2 cup chopped peanuts
- 1/4 cup sesame seeds
Dressing
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cook the quinoa: In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed quinoa and water. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for about 15 minutes or until the quinoa is fluffy and the water has been fully absorbed. Remove from heat and allow it to cool completely.
- Prepare the vegetables and nuts: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled quinoa along with diced red bell pepper, cucumber, shredded carrots, sliced green onions, chopped cilantro, chopped peanuts, and sesame seeds. Mix gently to combine the ingredients evenly.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, lime juice, honey, sesame oil, freshly grated ginger, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until well blended and smooth.
- Toss the salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the quinoa mixture. Toss thoroughly until all the salad components are evenly coated with the flavorful dressing.
- Chill and serve: Place the salad in the refrigerator and chill it for at least 30 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully. Serve cold or at room temperature for best taste.
Notes
- For a vegan version, substitute honey with maple syrup or agave nectar.
- You can toast the sesame seeds and peanuts lightly to enhance their flavor.
- Adjust the salt and pepper according to your taste preferences.
- This salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Add a dash of chili flakes or fresh chopped chili for some heat if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Thai quinoa salad, quinoa crunch salad, healthy quinoa recipe, vegetarian salad, Asian-inspired salad, quinoa vegetable salad, nutritious salad