One-Pot Sweet & Spiced Quinoa Lentil Salad

Ingredients in Sweet & Spiced Quinoa Lentil Salad

This lineup of ingredients seriously makes me sooo happy...it's just so colorful and flavorful! This is a true rainbow of veggies, spices, grains, and herbs, and I love gathering these ingredients knowing they're going to fill me up, make my body feel amazing, and taste absolutely divine.

• Red onion - Dice it up small! Red onion provides the first flavorful layer in this dish.
• Spices - Ground turmeric, curry powder, salt, and pepper are going to make your kitchen smell incredible and this dish taste amazing!
• White quinoa - Important tip for cooking with quinoa: rinse it first! Quinoa can taste bitter and even soapy if you don't give it a good rinse. Most of the time, when people tell me they don't like quinoa, this is the reason.
• Lentils - I suggest French green lentils or black Beluga lentils. Black beluga lentils are my favorite in terms of texture. Lentils are a wonderful way to add nutrients and filling content to vegan dinners.
• Vegetable broth - I always use low-sodium vegetable broth...or you can make your own No-Waste Vegetable Broth!
• Aromatics - Green onions, cilantro and parsley, all chopped up with the large stems removed.
• Almonds - Sliced almonds work great here. Omit these for a nut-free version! You can replace them with sunflower seeds, pepitas, or leave it out completely.
• Unsweetened dried cranberries - I LOVE the chewy, tart sweetness that dried berries add to this salad! It's unexpected and do delicious. You could also try chopped dates!
• Maple syrup - My favorite natural sweetener! I buy pure maple syrup in bulk because I use it in so many recipes.
• Lime - You'll need the juice of one lime to finish this dish, and I'll be honest...I think it's the secret ingredient that sends this dish into close-your-eyes, oh-my-goodness territory!

All About Quinoa

Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is an incredible base for so many of my meals. It's quick to make (I always make Perfectly Cooked Quinoa in the Instant Pot!), absorbs the other flavors in the dish, and is light and fluffy in texture while also being filling and nutritious. Quinoa is loaded with fiber (over five grams in one serving!) and is considered a complete protein with all nine 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, phosphorus and many phytochemicals.  It also offers important minerals such as calcium, potassium, copper and zinc.

For a complete guide on quinoa, see my post on Quinoa Benefits for Vegans (+ Recipes).

Meal Prep Quinoa Lentil Salad

This flavorful salad is perfect for meal-prep and can be served warm or cold. It is incredibly satisfying and loaded with plant-based protein and fiber. I find this salad to be incredibly filling since it is loaded with plant-based protein from the quinoa, lentils, and sliced almonds! You can omit the sliced almonds for a nut-free option.  It is naturally gluten-free and grain-free (and yet quite hearty).