Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressing (2024)

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Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressing (1)Loaded Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressing. Packed with veggies and kissed with a perky chile dressing!

Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressing (2)
Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressing (3)

In a random dinner conversation, a local chef recentlymentionedthat he thought quinoa tasted like birdseed.

After a chuckle, I thought out loud, “Well, I’ve never thought of it tasting like birdseed, but what does it taste like? It’s nutty. Earthy… But mostly it just tastes like whatever you add to it.”

Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressing (4)

Suchis the reality of quinoa.

Yes, it’s a hearty superfood loaded with protein, fiber and minerals. Yet taste-wise, it mainly favorsthe other ingredients incorporated into the dish… And birdseed. *wink*

You can certainly coax the nutty essence to the forefront, by toasting the quinoa before boiling. Yet quinoa cooked with fresh herbs, tends to taste like fresh herbs, and quinoa cooked with spices, tastes like spices.

Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressing (5)

This shouldn’t be a reason to look down on quinoa.

In fact, I think of it as a positive quality. Quinoa is a versatilepower-packed platform to build upon with a wide array of flavors, like fresh veggies, or say, an awesome delicately smoky green chile dressing.

For instance.

Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressing (6)

I have so many good things to say about today’s Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressing.

Although if you take a long look at the photos, I’m sure you can see the appeal for yourself.

Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressing (7)

Light fluffy quinoa with a nutty aroma.

Piles of crisp cool rainbow colored vegetables.

Creamy smooth green chile dressing with a tangy-sweet note.

It’s healthy, yet filling andsatisfying.

Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressing (8)

I love the contrast of thecolorful blendof fresh veggies mixed with the starchy grainy quality of the quinoa.

Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressing (9)

Yet what really sets this Quinoa Salad Recipe apart is the mean green dressing that is tossed in at the end.

I used one of my favorite pantry go-to items, Old El Paso Chopped Green Chiles, as the base of this tantalizing dressing.

Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressing (10)

Green chiles are a greatflavor-boostingingredient because they offer a mildly smoking sweetness and tang to any recipe.

I poured Old El Paso Green Chiles with cilantro, garlic, lime juice, honey, and oil to make a silky dressing that offers huge perky appeal to the quinoa salad.

Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressing (11)

I mean, fire works and clashing cymbals kind of flavor.

Flavor that makes your mouth come alive.

Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressing (12)

This particular quinoa salad was basically shaking with giddy anticipation as I drizzled the green chile dressing over the top.

It was good before, but now?

Now it dazzles!

Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressing (13)

If you have resigned to believe that all quinoa dishes are boring, it’s time to give this fresh and zesty Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressing a try.

It’s also time to start packing your pantry with Old El Paso Green Chiles.

Just saying.

Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressing (14)

Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressingis vegan, gluten free, packed with nutrients, and makes a great make-ahead dish for parties and picnics.

You are going to love it!

Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressing (15)

Print Recipe

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Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 18 minutes minutes

Total Time: 33 minutes minutes

Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressing - Simple Chopped Salad with smoky creamy vinaigrette.

Servings: 8

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

For the Quinoa Salad Recipe:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 1/2 cups dried quinoa white, red or a mix
  • 3 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes halved
  • 1 cup sliced cucumber
  • 1 cup sliced radishes
  • 1 cup sliced mini bell peppers
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

For the Green Chile Dressing:

Instructions

  • Place the olive oil and quinoa in a medium sauce pan. Set over medium heat. Stir to toast the quinoa for 2-3 minutes. Then pour in the vegetable broth and add 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir, cover, and bring to a boil. Simmer for 15 minutes. Then move the pot off the burner and allow it to steam for another 5-10 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

  • Meanwhile slice all the veggies and set aside. Then add the Old El Paso Green Chiles, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, honey and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a blender. Puree the mixture until smooth. Leave the blender running. Remove the lid and slowly drizzle in the oil to emulsify. Taste the dressing, then salt and pepper to taste.

  • Dump the cooked quinoa out onto a large platter, or into a big bowl. Arrange the tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, and bell peppers over the top. When ready to serve, drizzle the green chile dressing over the top and toss. Then sprinkle the extra chopped cilantro over the top and serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

NOTE: This salad can be made up to 3 days ahead. Toss with the dressing, cover, and refrigerate. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Nutrition

Calories: 309kcal, Carbohydrates: 34g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 497mg, Potassium: 473mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 1430IU, Vitamin C: 54.5mg, Calcium: 43mg, Iron: 2.5mg

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Author: Sommer Collier

Making this recipe?Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Old El Paso. All opinions are my own.

This site contains affiliate links, if you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission.

Quinoa Salad Recipe with Green Chile Dressing (2024)

FAQs

Is quinoa salad good for cholesterol? ›

Quinoa is an excellent source of dietary fiber, which plays a significant role in managing cholesterol levels. Foods high in fiber, like quinoa, bind to bad cholesterol in your small intestine and reduce its absorption into the bloodstream.

How do you eat Costco quinoa salad? ›

Costco Quinoa Salad Directions

This salad is ready to eat! You can serve it straight from the container or add it to a salad bowl to serve.

Is it okay to eat quinoa salad everyday? ›

You can eat one-two cups of cooked quinoa in a day. You should avoid eating it if you experience stomachache, itchiness or vomiting after consuming it. A study by Harvard Public School of Health has reported that eating a bowl of quinoa daily is healthy and without any side effects.

Is quinoa salad good for losing weight? ›

Compared to other popular carbs, such as corn or rice, quinoa has more protein and fiber. These nutrients can help you lose weight and are critical for weight loss and weight maintenance. Quinoa has a lower GI score and is expected to have less impact on your blood sugars than other similar carbs.

What is the healthiest way to eat quinoa? ›

Toss it in salads.

Quinoa is a complete source of protein and makes a great addition to a healthy salad. The combination of fiber, protein and healthy fats can turn a light side salad into a robust entrée.

Why is my quinoa salad mushy? ›

Some recipes call for as high as a 2:1 water to grain ratio, while others go as low as 1 1/2:1. In my experience, the sweet spot for light, fluffy quinoa is right in the middle. I use 1 3/4 cups water for every cup of quinoa. Any more water, and the quinoa gets mushy.

Can I eat quinoa salad at night? ›

Good for the gut - Quinoa has anti-inflammatory properties, and is good for the gut, as it protects the gastrointestinal tract of the body. Quinoa can be consumed anytime – at breakfast, lunch or dinner. But it is best to eat healthy food like quinoa before going to bed.

Which salad is good for lowering cholesterol? ›

Try Different Greens. Milder flavor greens: Try romaine, green leaf, or iceberg lettuce. Spicier greens: If you like a little more of a bite, try fresh spinach leaves, wild arugula, radicchio, or spring leaves. Mixed greens: Use a combination of both types of greens.

Is quinoa better than rice for cholesterol? ›

Unlike rice, quinoa fibers help to lower cholesterol and control blood sugar levels. Unlike rice, quinoa reduces your blood fat levels after a meal called triglycerides. Quinoa has a higher amount of all essential amino acids.

How much does quinoa lower cholesterol? ›

One study found that eating 50 grams (1.7 oz) daily for 6 weeks lowered total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol ( 14 ). However, the effects were small, and it lowered the levels of the “good” HDL cholesterol too. Another study compared quinoa and corn flakes.

What grain is best for lowering cholesterol? ›

Whole-grain oats: Best bet for lowering cholesterol.

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