Aromatic quinoa salad
Perfect quinoa salad to accompany any grilled meats or even just as a nice lunch dish or late evening snack.
Updated : 17 March, 2026
Easy
About 20 min.
Ingredients
For the Quinoa
250 grams
Quinoa
500 grams
Water
0.5 teaspoon
Salt
200 grams
Red onion
20 grams
Garlic
small handful
Parsley
4 tablespoon
Olive oil
For the date dressing
150 grams
Dates
100 milliliters
Water
3 tablespoon
Vinegar
1 tablespoon
Smoked paprika
200 grams
Olive oil
2 teaspoon
Lemon juice
0.5 teaspoon
Ground black pepper
1 teaspoon
Sea salt
Table
Table of volume measurements:
- teaspoon - 5 ml
- dessert spoon - 10 ml
- tablespoon - 20 ml
- glass - 200 ml
Preparation
Step 1
Start by rinsing the quinoa thoroughly under running water to remove any bitterness.
Step 2
Cook the quinoa in water or stock, bringing it to a boil and simmering until all the liquid has been fully absorbed. Once cooked, cover the pot with a lid and let it sit for 5 minutes to steam and become light and fluffy.
Step 3
While the quinoa cooks, heat oil in a pan and fry the onion and garlic until they turn lightly golden, sweet, and fragrant. Set aside.
Step 4
Finely chop the parsley and keep it ready for later.
Step 5
Place the dates in a bowl and pour over boiling water. Let them soak for 15 minutes until softened.
Step 6
To prepare the dressing, add the soaked dates along with the remaining sauce ingredients into a jug or blender. Blend until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust with salt, pepper, and acidity as needed. If you prefer a bit of heat, add some fresh chilli. The dressing should be sweet, slightly tangy, and well balanced.
Step 7
Combine the cooked quinoa, sautéed onion and garlic, and chopped parsley in a large bowl. Pour over the dressing and toss everything together until well mixed.
Step 8
Taste once more and adjust seasoning if necessary.
Step 9
Serve and enjoy.
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