Fiesta Quinoa Salad

 Ready for a fiesta? Here’s how to make it healthy! This nutritious Fiesta Quinoa Salad is fun, colorful and, most importantly, delicious. The first time I made this my husband was sure he was going to hate it. As it turns out, it is one of his favorite quinoa salad recipes!

Few things make me happier than a healthy recipe that tastes great.

With the holiday weekend coming, I’ve been in such a festive mood.

Fall is my favorite time of year, and even though it doesn’t officially start for a few more weeks, I always go into fall mode after labor day. (Hello pumpkin and butternut squash.)

Just because fall is on the way, doesn’t mean that quinoa salads are out. Far from it!

I think quinoa salad recipes are great year around, don’t you?

This Fiesta Quinoa Salad is an update of recipe I originally developed more than seven years ago. (I can’t believe I’ve been blogging that long.)

My husband is no longer a quinoa fan, thanks to being subjected to way too many recipe trials when I blogged a Cooking Quinoa.

He saw the ingredients for it on the counter and smugly announced “Thank God you got me a steak. There is no way that is going to taste good.”

I can be a little persistent when it comes to getting an opinion on my recipes. And after some gentle requests ***cough***, he took a bite.

I could tell he was conflicted. He didn’t want to tell me he liked it.

But he finally admitted that this Fiesta Quinoa Salad is one of his favorite quinoa salad recipes ever.

It was a great way to say goodbye to summer – even though it still will feel like summer here in Florida for some time to come.

If you like this Fiesta Quinoa Salad You May Also Like:

• Sweet Potato Pomegranate and Crispy Quinoa Salad
• Crunchy Quinoa Salad
• Honey Mustard Quinoa Salad
• Edamame Quinoa Salad
• Mexican Quinoa Salad

5 from 3 votes

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Fiesta Quinoa Salad

Ready for a fiesta? Here’s how to make it healthy! This nutritious Fiesta Quinoa Salad is fun, colorful and, most importantly, delicious. The first time I made this my husband was sure he was going to hate it. As it turns out, it is one of his favorite recipes!

Course Salad

Cuisine Healthy

Prep Time 20 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 6

Calories 351 kcal

Author Wendy Polisi

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked quinoa
• 1 cup frozen corn thawed
• 1 red pepper chopped
• 3 carrots shredded
• 3 scallions chopped
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries
• 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro chopped
• 4 tablespoons red onion chopped & divided
• 4 tablespoon soy sauce or gluten free tamari
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/8 teaspoon dried chipotle pepper powder or cayenne
• 1/4 cup pine nuts toasted
• 1/4 cup roasted pumpkin seeds

Instructions

1. In a large bowl combine quinoa, corn, red pepper, carrots, scallions, cranberries, cilantro and 2 tablespoons of red onion.
2. In your blender combine soy sauce, lemon juice, olive oil, remaining red onion, garlic, smoked paprika and dried chipotle powder. Season to taste with salt and pepper and process until smooth.
3. Toss quinoa mixture with the desired amount of dressing. Top with almonds and pumpkin seeds

Nutrition Facts

Fiesta Quinoa Salad

Amount Per Serving

Calories 351 Calories from Fat 144

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 16g 25%

Saturated Fat 2g 10%

Sodium 702mg 29%

Potassium 505mg 14%

Total Carbohydrates 46g 15%

Dietary Fiber 6g 24%

Sugars 13g

Protein 8g 16%

Vitamin A 119.1%

Vitamin C 40.2%

Calcium 3.5%

Iron 15.9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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