Moroccan Quinoa Salad

Ingredients in Moroccan Quinoa Salad

This is a really, really easy dish to prepare! It's got just a couple simple ingredients that combine to pack a delicious punch...my favorite kind of recipe! You could prep the quinoa and dressing ahead of time so it's ready to quickly toss together when you're hungry.

• Perfectly Cooked Quinoa - Quinoa is the base for this delicious Moroccan salad! One cup of dry quinoa will produce three cooked cups, the perfect amount for this recipe. If you have an Instant Pot, you can make quinoa in minutes with my Instant Pot method.
• Green onions (scallions) - Dice your green onions small! You could also opt for ¼ cup red onion for beautiful color.
• Fresh herbs - I use both parsley and cilantro with the stems removed, diced into fine pieces that will mix into every bite.
• Sliced almonds - A little crunch in a fresh salad is a must! I love the protein and flavor boost sliced almonds add to this dish.
• Dried cranberries - This gives the salad a sweet contrast and adds a chewy texture that's addictive. I always go for unsweetened dried cranberries since their natural flavor is already so good! You could also use apple juice sweetened dried cranberries, diced Medjool dates, dried cherries or finely diced fresh apple.

Easy Homemade Dressing

I absolutely swear by making dressings from scratch in your own kitchen! You can perfectly adjust and fine-tune the flavors so it's exactly how you like it, and you're avoiding so many artificial sweeteners and preservatives. I usually measure dressing ingredients into a Mason jar, put a lid on, and shake it up. Then it can be stored in the refrigerator until you're ready to use it! This dressing contains extra virgin olive oil, a fresh lime, pure maple syrup, and a couple spices for the perfect Moroccan flavor: turmeric, curry, salt, and pepper.

All About Quinoa

Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is an incredible base for so many of my meals. I always make Perfectly Cooked Quinoa in the Instant Pot since it takes just a couple minutes and produces fluffy quinoa every time! Quinoa is filling and nutritious; it's loaded with fiber (over five grams in one serving!) and is considered a complete protein with all eight essential amino acids. It actually has more protein than any other grain, which is so important for vegans! Quinoa is also a good source of folate, magnesium, iron, phosphorous, and many phytochemicals in addition to containing calcium, potassium, copper, and zinc.

How to Add Vegan Protein to Moroccan Quinoa Salad

This salad has a good amount of protein thanks to almonds, which are also low in carbohydrates and offer a good source of fiber, healthy fats, vitamin E and magnesium. I love knowing why certain foods are so much better for our bodies...it's one of the reasons I got a Master of Public Health degree and became a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) through the National Commission of Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC). If you're hoping to add even more plant-based protein to your diet, I'd suggest adding canned black lentils or chickpeas into this dish. You could also serve with my Sweet and Spiced Roasted Chickpeas! It's even great served with or overtop a Simple Side Salad.

More Filling Salads

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• Quinoa Tabbouleh
• Simple Greek Village Salad (Horiatiki: Tomato Cucumber Salad)
• Easy Greek Orzo Salad
• Vegan Protein Kale Salad
• Apple Arugula Salad with Candied Walnuts, Dates and Feta
• Mediterranean Veggie Pasta Salad
• Mexican Quinoa Salad
• Mediterranean Quinoa Salad