• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
A Mind "Full" Mom
  • Recipe Index
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Main Courses
      • 30-Minute Meals
      • Easy Pork Recipes
      • Beef Recipes
      • Soup, Stew, and Chili Recipes
      • Sandwiches, Burgers, and Wraps
      • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Instant Pot
    • Appetizers
    • Beverage Recipes
    • Breads and Muffins
    • Allergy Friendly Recipes
      • Dairy Free
      • Gluten Free
      • Paleo
      • Vegan
      • Low Carb
    • Pasta
    • Snacks
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
  • Instant Pot
    • Start Here: Instant Pot 101
    • All Instant Pot Recipes
    • Healthy Instant Pot Recipes
    • Sign Up for Instant Pot Tips and Recipes
  • About Me
    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Free Instant Pot Secrets
  • Free Meal Plans
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Instant Pot
  • About Me
  • Subscribe to Newsletters
  • Free Instant Pot Secrets
  • Free Meal Plans
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Real Food » Salads » Quinoa Spinach Salad

    Quinoa Spinach Salad

    By Kristen Chidsey | 49 Comments | Published March 19, 2020 | Updated March 19, 2020 *This post may include amazon links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Pin
    Share
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Quinoa Spinach Salad is a simple, protein-packed, refreshing salad. Made with quinoa, spinach, tender green beans, and a fresh lemon dressing, this simple vegan salad is light, healthy, and easy to prepare. Quinoa salad comes together in less about 30 minutes and is packed full of nutrients, making this a meatless, yet high-protein option, perfect for a quick lunch or a light dinner. This is the kind of meal that won't weigh you down, but packs in a ton of flavor!

    Quinoa Spinach Salad is a simple, protein-packed, refreshing salad. Made with quinoa, spinach, tender green beans, and a fresh lemon dressing, this simple vegan salad is light, healthy, and easy to prepare.

    Quinoa salad comes together in less about 30 minutes and is packed full of nutrients, making this a meatless, yet high-protein option, perfect for a quick lunch or a light dinner. Just like Chickpea Salad and Tabbouli Salad, this is the kind of meal that won't weigh you down, but packs in a ton of flavor!

    Bowl of Spinach Quinoa Salad next to lemons

    When it comes to my lunch, I often opt for a hearty meatless salad. 

    This Spinach Quinoa Salad is one of my favorite go-to's. Not only is flavorful and healthy, but it is also easy to prepare. And the flavors get better as it sits, which makes this a great recipe to prep on the weekend and enjoy for quick lunches during the week.

    In fact, this salad proves that eating healthy is delicious and possible even despite a busy schedule. 

    Key Ingredients

    • Quinoa: Use any variety of quinoa you like. I personally prefer to cook my quinoa in the Instant Pot, as it comes together in minutes, but you can easily prepare on the stove as well. If you don't care for quinoa, feel free to use rice or orzo as the base for this salad. 
    • Spinach: Spinach is typically my go-to for this salad, as it is easy to find, and affordable. But arugula or other green lettuces also work well.
    • Green Beans: I love the texture that crisp fresh green beans add to this salad. They are a great contrast to the tender spinach and soft quinoa. I cook them with the quinoa, which allows them to get just tender, but you can steam them in the microwave, or blanch them if you want to keep the beans super crisp. In fact, you can even leave them raw if desired. 
    • Lemon Dressing: The dressing is a super simple combination of lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, capers, olive oil, and salt and pepper. It is bright, fresh, and pairs well with the delicate vegetables in this salad. Capers add a salty bite to dressing, but by all means, omit them if you do not care for the flavor or texture. You can also opt to blend the ingredients for the lemon dressing in a blender. This will give you amazing flavor without biting into a whole caper.

    I also add in roasted red peppers and diced cucumbers to this salad for additional flavor and crunch. Grape tomatoes, olives, fresh peppers, artichoke hearts, or even feta if you are not dairy-free are all great additions to this quinoa salad. 

    Ingredients for Spinach Quinoa Salad on White Counter

    How to Make Spinach Quinoa Salad

    • Prepare quinoa.
    • Steam Green Beans. 
    • Whisk together the lemon dressing.
    • Toss everything together and refrigerate. 

    Quinoa Salad with Spinach and Tomatoes

    More Quinoa Recipes

    • Greek Quinoa Salad
    • Mexican Quinoa Salad
    • Veggie Packed Quinoa Burgers
    Quinoa Spinach Salad in White Bowl

    Quinoa Spinach Salad

    A refreshing and light vegan quinoa salad made with spinach, veggies, and a fresh lemon dressing. 
    4.72 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Refrigeration: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 55 minutes
    Servings: 4 large servings
    Calories: 330kcal
    Author: Kristen Chidsey

    Ingredients

    For Cooking Quinoa

    • 1-2 cups vegetable broth see directions
    • 1 cup quinoa
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt

    Quinoa Salad

    • 3 cups cooked quinoa
    • 2 cups fresh green beans trimmed into 2 inch pieces
    • 4 cups fresh spinach
    • 1 English cucumber diced into half moons
    • ¼ cup roasted red peppers diced

    Lemon Dressing

    • 1 lemon juice and zest
    • 1 tablespoon capers
    • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon pepper
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    Prevents your screen from going dark while preparing the recipe.

    Instructions

    Cooking Quinoa

    • Preparing on the stove: Bring 2 cups stock, quinoa, ½ teaspoon salt, oregano, garlic, and red pepper flakes to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover. Cook for 15 minutes, or until quinoa has absorbed liquid.
    • Preparing in the Instant Pot: Place 1 cup of stock, quinoa, ½ teaspoon salt, oregano, garlic, and red pepper flakes in the Instant Pot. Place lid on the pressure cooker, be sure vent is sealed. Set cook time to 1 minute on high pressure. Once cook time has elapsed, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then do a quick release of pressure.

    Prepare Green Beans

    • Place fresh green beans in a microwave-safe bowl and add in ¼ cup water. Microwave for 4 minutes or until beans are just tender. You can blanch green beans by bringing a large pot of water to a boil. Add in green beans and boil for 1-2 minutes and then immediately transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Allow beans to cool and then drain off water and pat dry before adding to the salad.

    Prepare Quinoa Salad

    • In small bowl, combine the juice and zest of a lemon with 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, capers, and olive oil.
    • Toss the cooked quinoa, steamed green beans, spinach, cucumbers, roasted peppers, and lemon dressing together.
    • Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until ready to eat.

    Notes

    • In place of spinach, arugula or other tender greens can be used. 
    • Feel free to use cooked rice or orzo in place of the cooked quinoa. 
    • If you like really spicy foods, increase the red pepper flakes to ½ teaspoon.
    • If the texture of capers is off-putting to you, blend your dressing instead of just whisking together. This will break down the capers and give the dressing amazing flavor without the concern of biting into a whole caper.
    • The salad can be eaten immediately, but is best after several hours of refrigeration to let the flavors marry together. 
    • This salad can be stored in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 330kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 901mg | Potassium: 683mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 3585IU | Vitamin C: 36.1mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 3.9mg
    Liked this Recipe? Tag me Today!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram - I would love to see!
    This post was originally published in April 2016 but has been updated with new pictures and tips in March 2020. 

     

     

    A refreshing and light easy quinoa salad with spinach and fresh lemon dressing! This vegan spinach quinoa salad for healthy lunches is so simple and ready in 30 minutes. It is a quick and filling option to power up during the summer! Save this pin!
    Pin
    Share
    « Instant Pot Carrot Cake Cheesecake
    Instant Pot Rice and Beans »

    About Kristen Chidsey

    Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sarah Skaggs

      March 25, 2020 at 8:45 am

      5 stars
      Mmm this was just the kind of thing we were looking for! Delicious!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        March 25, 2020 at 8:53 am

        So glad this hit the spot Sarah!

        Reply
    2. Natasha

      March 25, 2020 at 7:23 am

      5 stars
      I definitely recommend this recipe aside from it's healthy, it's also yummy! I can eat this every day.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        March 25, 2020 at 7:25 am

        I am so glad you enjoyed so much Natasha!

        Reply
    3. Krissy

      March 24, 2020 at 9:20 pm

      5 stars
      This was so good--light and fresh

      Reply
    4. Karen Petersen

      May 10, 2016 at 12:09 pm

      On my podcast this week our weekly challenge is to eat a salad every day! This salad is definitely going to have to make an appearance. Looks fantastic!!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        May 10, 2016 at 1:25 pm

        Karen, I WOULD love for this to make an appearance 🙂

        Reply
    5. Catherine

      May 10, 2016 at 9:32 am

      Dear Kristen, what a wonderful summer salad...this looks so beautiful. xo, Catherine

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        May 10, 2016 at 11:48 am

        Thanks Catherine

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Meet A Mind "Full" Mom

    welcomeHi! I'm Kristen. I want to welcome you into my kitchen and my REAL, imperfect life. Let me share with you tips and tricks to help you make healthy eating a reality for your family in the chaos of life and on the constraints of a budget. Read more

    Instant Pot Favorites

    jar of plain yogurt next to instant pot

    Instant Pot Yogurt

    Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs Sliced Open on cutting board

    Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs

    Shredded Pot Roast with carrots and Potatoes in white bowl next to Instant Pot.

    Instant Pot Pot Roast

    Whole Chicken on cutting board

    Instant Pot Rotisserie Chicken

    Bowl of Cold Start Yogurt

    Instant Pot Cold Start Yogurt

    Inner pot of instant pot filled dried beans

    Instant Pot Beans

    4 chicken breasts cooked inside instant pot.

    Instant Pot Chicken Breast (Fresh or Frozen)

    How to use the instant pot as a slow cooker

    How to Use Your Instant Pot as a Slow Cooker

    Reader Favorites

    Bowl of Baked Meatballs.

    The Best Baked Meatballs

    slice of egg cheese overnight breakfast casserole with sausage

    Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole

    Creamy and Cheesy Chicken and Rice in yellow casserole dish

    Creamy and Cheesy Chicken and Rice

    Baked Potato on White Plate

    Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

    Chili seasonings labled on wooden board

    DIY Chili Seasoning

    Plate of chicken and bok choy stir fry topped with cilantro.

    Stir-Fried Chicken and Bok Choy

    Platter of Instant Pot Wings next to ranch dressing

    Instant Pot Chicken Wings

    Bowl of slow cooker oatmeal topped with maple syrup and nuts

    Slow Cooker Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal

    Taco Meat in skillet with wooden spoon

    The Best Taco Meat Recipe

    Homemade Chicken Tenders on platter.

    Homemade Chicken Tenders

    FEATURED ON

    featured

    Footer

    Featured on:

    Websites AMind"Full"Mom has been featured on

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with me

    DISCLAIMER: THE SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE AND IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR TREATMENT. AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS I GENUINELY LOVE ARE OFTEN INCORPORATED IN MY POSTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

    Copyright © 2020 · A MIND "FULL" MOM