Edamame and Quinoa Salad (Printable)

Protein-packed bowl with edamame, quinoa, vegetables, and citrus dressing

# What You Need:

→ Grains and Legumes

01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 1 cup shelled edamame, fresh or frozen

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1/2 cucumber, diced
07 - 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
09 - 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped

→ Dressing

10 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
12 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# Directions:

01 - In a medium saucepan, combine quinoa and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is tender. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
02 - While quinoa cooks, bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add edamame and cook for 3-4 minutes or according to package instructions. Drain and set aside to cool.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled quinoa, edamame, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, cucumber, red onion, parsley, and mint.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, rice vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until fully emulsified.
05 - Pour dressing over the salad and toss gently to distribute evenly. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
06 - Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It actually tastes fresh and vibrant instead of feeling like punishment for eating well.
  • You can prep it in about half an hour and have lunch sorted for days.
  • The texture contrast between soft grains and crisp vegetables keeps things interesting with every bite.
02 -
  • Don't dress the salad until you're ready to eat it, or the vegetables will release water and dilute everything into blandness over time.
  • If you're making this ahead, keep the dressing separate and toss everything together just before serving for maximum flavor and crunch.
03 -
  • Cold quinoa can sometimes clump together, so fluff it with a fork right before adding the dressing to keep the grains separate and light.
  • If your dressing tastes bitter or flat, you're usually missing either salt or acid, so taste and adjust one at a time until it makes you happy.
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