• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Wendy Polisi
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Healthy Living
    • Essential Oils
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Affiliate Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookies Policy
    • Terms of Service and Conditions
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Lifestyle
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Diet » Gluten Free Recipes

    Asian Quinoa Salad

    5 from 7 votes
    Posted August 19, 2022 (last updated February 10, 2023) by Wendy Polisi

    • Share4016
    • Tweet
    • Yummly

    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Asian Quinoa Salad is both light and satisfying! You get a delicious kick of sweetness from the oranges and cranberries, while the sesame seeds and cashews add a perfect texture. Finish it off with a punchy Asian Salad Dressing, for a delicious meal that you will crave again and again.

    Close up overhead photo of Asian Quinoa Salad in a white bowl.

    I you are like me, you are always on the look out for lunches that will excite you and leaving you feeling your best.

    This quinoa salad with mandarin oranges does just that.

    The protein from the quinoa will leave you satisfied, and the bold flavors from the dressing will keep your taste buds happy.

    This easy vegan salad is perfect for meal prep and makes a great grab and go lunch!

    Give it a try and let me know what you think.

    Ingredients for Making Mandarin Quinoa Salad

    • Quinoa: I like to use white quinoa in this recipe, but you can use your favorite kind. To make this salad super-easy, cook your quinoa on the weekend while you are doing meal prep. You can also buy pre-cooked quinoa.
    • Kale or spinach: I used kale in my salad, but you could also use spinach. If using kale, make sure to remove the tough stems and chop it into bite-size pieces.
    • Mandarin oranges: I used canned mandarin oranges because they are super-easy, but you could also use fresh oranges. If using fresh, you will need 3-4 depending on their size.
    • Dried cranberries: These add a beautiful sweetness to the salad that perfectly complements the dressing.
    • Green onion: I love the flavor that green onions add to this salad, but you could also use diced red onion.
    • Fresh parsley: I used fresh parsley because it was what I had on hand, but you could also use cilantro or mint.
    • Asian Salad Dressing: You can use your favorite brand of Asian salad dressing, or make your own. I use my homemade Asian Dressing.
    • Toasted Sesame Seeds: These are a must in my opinion. They add the perfect amount of crunch and flavor.
    • Cashews: I love the flavor that cashews add to this salad, but you could also use peanuts or almonds.

    Tips & Tricks

    • If you are cooking your quinoa just before making this salad, spread it out on a cookie sheet to let it cool. This will keep the quinoa fluffy and help it cool quicker.
    • If you are using canned mandarin oranges, make sure to drain them well. Otherwise, your salad will be too wet.
    • I like to use kale in this salad because I think it holds up better than spinach, but feel free to use your favorite green.The amounts of each ingredient are suggestions. Feel free to add more or less of anything to suit your taste.

    Storage

    Store this vegan quinoa salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    If you are planning on making this ahead, you can store the sesame seeds and cashews separately if you like.

    If you want to meal prep this salad but put it together at the last minute, I recommend cooking the quinoa ahead of time and storing it in the fridge.

    Then, when you are ready to eat, chop the greens and mix everything together. This salad is also a great option for taking to work or school because it doesn't require reheating.

    Variations

    • Use cilantro instead of parsley
    • Add avocado just before serving
    • Add julienned carrots, napa cabbage and/or bean sprouts
    • Substitute peanuts or almonds for the cashews

    Recommended Tools

    As an amazon associate, I earn from qualifying sales.

    • Large Bowl
    Overhead photo of a bowl of Asian Quinoa Salad surrounded by parsley and dried cranberries.

    You May Also Like

    • Honey Mustard Quinoa Salad
    • Edamame Quinoa Salad
    • Mexican Quinoa Salad
    • Zucchini Feta Quinoa Salad
    • Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai
    • Quinoa Fritters
    If you like this recipe don't forget to leave a 5 star rating and let me know how it went in the below comments, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, Instagram, and PINTEREST to see all my delicious recipes.
    Square overhead close up photo of an Asian quinoa salad in a white bowl sitting on a white napkin.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 7 votes

    Asian Quinoa Salad

    This healthy Asian Quinoa Salad is so easy to make and has a delicious Asian Dressing. Perfect for vegan lunches and dinner, this Asian Salad Recipe is naturally gluten free.  I like to drizzle leftovers with a little extra dressing.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Total Time15 mins
    Course: Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American, Gluten Free, Healthy, Quinoa
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: salad
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 224kcal
    Author: Wendy Polisi

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup cooked quinoa
    • 2 cups kale or Spinach, chopped
    • ½ cup Mandarin oranges drained
    • ¼ cup dried cranberries
    • 2 green onions chopped
    • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
    • ¼ cup Asian Salad Dressing more or less to taste
    • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
    • 2 tablespoons cashews
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • In a large bowl combine quinoa, kale, oranges, cranberries, green onions and parsley. 
    • Toss with dressing and top with sesame seeds and cashews. 
    • Serve at room temperature or chilled. Drizzle with additional dressing if desired.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 224kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 12g | Sodium: 19mg | Potassium: 363mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 3740IU | Vitamin C: 50.5mg | Calcium: 113mg | Iron: 2.3mg

    Filed Under:

    Gluten Free RecipesQuinoa RecipesSalad RecipesVegan RecipesVegetarian Recipes

    More Gluten Free Recipes

    • Square photo of two ramekins with a quinoa egg bake in them.
      Quinoa Egg Bake
    • Photo of a white plate with quinoa balls lined up on it.
      Spicy Pesto Quinoa Balls
    • Gluten Free Chicken Stroganoff
    • Square photo of a protein power bar on a white background with a stack of power bars behind it.
      Protein Power Bars - Real Food Protein Bars

    About Wendy Polisi

    Hi, I’m Wendy! I’m a cook, 5 time cookbook author, blogger, natural health enthusiast…and most importantly a mom. My boys are 16 & 17 and my late life princess is 9.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Rating




    1. Alli Smith

      December 28, 2017 at 9:31 pm

      I can definitely see myself craving this colorful salad. After all the heavy holiday foods, I'm ready for fresh salads like this. Looks delicious.

      Reply
    2. Jenny Finney

      December 28, 2017 at 9:33 pm

      5 stars
      This looks so good! I've never used kale in a salad....I guess I thought it would taste bitter, but I am a huge fan of cranberries and fruit, along with nuts, in my salad. This type of salad is my favorite!

      Reply
    3. candy

      December 28, 2017 at 9:39 pm

      We have been eating so many heavy meals lately that fixing this asian salad would be a wonderful change of pace. Looks light and delicious.

      Reply
    4. Dina Demarest

      December 28, 2017 at 9:58 pm

      This asian quinoa salad looks amazing. I will have to make it this weekend for the family.

      Reply
    5. Pam

      December 28, 2017 at 11:36 pm

      This salad looks so refreshing. I need to eat a salad after this holiday indulging I have been doing.

      Reply
    6. Amber Myers

      December 29, 2017 at 1:28 am

      5 stars
      This is the kind of salad I really enjoy! I'll be making this soon for lunch. I do love my oranges.

      Reply
    7. Sara Welch

      December 29, 2017 at 7:22 am

      I would really love to try this! I have always enjoyed Asian salads.

      Reply
    8. Ricci

      December 29, 2017 at 8:11 am

      I am quinoa obsessed and I need to try this salad ASAP! It sounds so good and looks so pretty!!

      Reply
    9. Sandy N Vyjay

      December 29, 2017 at 12:52 pm

      The salad looks so healthy as well as yummy. TheQuinoa of course is such a healthy ingredient. Would love to make this salad.

      Reply
    10. Heather

      December 29, 2017 at 4:59 pm

      This looks so good! I just pinned it! I love all the texture too, and I love tangerine slices in it.

      Reply
    11. Tami

      December 29, 2017 at 5:45 pm

      I have yet to try quinoa. This salad looks like the perfect way to give it a taste.

      Reply
    12. Angie

      December 29, 2017 at 6:28 pm

      YUM, this looks really tasty. I'm a fan of asian flavors in general, but quinoa would make it even better.

      Reply
    13. Farrah Less G.

      December 29, 2017 at 6:36 pm

      This salad is so colorful and looks tasty my kinda of everyday meal. Trying to be a healthy eater nowadays.

      Reply
    14. anosa

      December 29, 2017 at 7:58 pm

      5 stars
      I love quinoa! I recently Made a salad, it wasn't as yummy looking and filling as yours. I may have to try yours and switch the oranges for apples or something.

      Reply
    15. Marysa

      December 29, 2017 at 8:25 pm

      This looks yummy, and hearty too for a salad. I have just recently begun to use quinoa in dishes, so it is nice to have some more ideas. I like how the kale holds up in this salad too.

      Reply
    16. David Elliott

      January 02, 2018 at 7:48 pm

      This salad does look so nice and refreshing. I do love Asian salads and those Mandarin wedges do look amazing. I will have to be trying this out soon.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Favorites

    • Close up photo of a spoonful of Spanish Cauliflower Rice resting in a bowl of keto rice.
      25-Minute Spanish Cauliflower Rice
    • Close up photo of a bread machine dinner roll on a cooling rack with other rolls behind it.
      Bread Machine Dinner Rolls
    • Square side photo of gluten free vegetarian lasagna.
      Gluten Free Vegetarian Lasagna
    • Square overhead photo of an aqua bowl with tahini pastas garnished with scallions and sesame seeds.
      Tahini Pasta
    • Square close up photo of a crispy quinoa salad with pomegranate and sweet potato.
      Crispy Quinoa Salad with Pomegranate and Sweet Potato
    • Square close up photo of a thai chicken salad on a white plate.
      Thai Chicken Salad Recipe

    Family, Food and Fun!

    Hi, I’m Wendy! I’m a cook, 5 time cookbook author, blogger, natural health enthusiast…and most importantly a mom. My boys are 16 & 17 and my late life princess is 9.

    More about me →

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Affiliate Disclosure
    • Terms of Service
    • About
    • Web Stories

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.