Description
Discover how to make this healthy quinoa salad with Moroccan roasted vegetables that’s perfect for meal prep! Learn how long quinoa salad lasts in the fridge and get tips on the best storage methods using airtight containers. Keep your salad fresh and flavorful with our guide to incorporating vibrant ingredients that make this dish a delicious and nutritious addition to your weekly meals.
Ingredients
For The Roasted Vegetables
600g (21.2 oz) Butternut Squash, peel, deseeded and cubed
300g (10.6 oz) Baby Carrots, trimmed, halved lengthways
1 Red Onion, peeled and cut into 1/8 wedges
2 Red Bell Peppers, cut into thick (2 cm) strips
400 gram (14 ounces) can Chickpeas, rinsed, drained (or 245g (1 1/2 cups) cooked
30 ml (2 tbsp) Harissa Paste
60 ml (4 tbs) Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste
For The Dressing
125 ml (1/2 cup) Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
45 ml (3 tbsp) Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed
10 ml (2 tsp) Lemon Zest, finely grated
1 Clove Garlic, crushed
5 ml (1 tsp) Dijon Mustard
5 ml (1 tsp) Honey
For The Quinoa Salad
4 cups Cooked White Quinoa
85 ml (1/3 cup) Currants or Raisins
120g (2 cups) Baby Spinach, Baby Kale or Arugula (Rocket)
100g (4oz) Soft Feta, crumbled
125ml (1/2 cup) Pomegranate Seeds
60 ml (4 tbsp) Sunflower Seeds, toasted
A Handful of Fresh Herbs like Mint leaves, Parsley or Cilantro to serve, washed
Instructions
Roast the Vegetables
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Preheat the oven to 220°C (430°F).
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Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
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Mix harissa and olive oil together.
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In a large bowl, toss butternut, carrots, red onion, bell peppers, and chickpeas in the harissa and olive oil mixture. Season with salt and pepper.
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Place the vegetables in a single layer on the parchment lined baking trays.
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Roast for 25-30 minutes or until the vegetables are cooked and slightly caramelized. Give the vegetables a good toss half way through the roasting.
Make the Dressing
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Whisk all dressing ingredients together in a jug or a jar.
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Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Assemble The Quinoa Salad
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Toss the currants and half of the dressing through the cooked white quinoa.
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Combine quinoa on a platter with roasted vegetables, baby kale (or arugula) and feta cheese.
Serve and Enjoy!
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Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and toasted sunflower seeds.
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Scatter with fresh herbs of your choice to serve with the remaining dressing.
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This salad can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature.
Notes
How to Store Quinoa Salad
Fridge: Store leftover quinoa salad in an airtight container for 3-4 days. This will help preserve its freshness and flavor.
Meal Prep: For best results, cook and cool the quinoa and roasted vegetables separately, then store them in individual airtight containers. Prepare the dressing in a separate jar or container and refrigerate. Prepping ingredients like pomegranate seeds, herbs, and greens ahead of time (without combining them) ensures maximum freshness. Assemble the salad only when you are ready to eat, tossing everything together with the dressing at the last moment for the best texture and flavor.
Freezer: Freeze the cooked quinoa and roasted vegetables separately in freezer-safe containers if you plan to store it for longer periods. Once thawed, assemble the salad with fresh ingredients.
Room Temperature: Avoid leaving quinoa salad at room temperature for more than two hours to prevent spoilage.
- Prep Time: 10 - 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 - 30 minutes
- Category: Side Dishes
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Moroccan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 685
- Sugar: 19.9 g
- Sodium: 505.1 mg
- Fat: 40.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 72.1 g
- Protein: 15.8 g
- Cholesterol: 14.8 mg