Citrus Herb Quinoa Tomato Salad (Print Version)
Fluffy quinoa tossed with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and fresh herbs in a bright citrus dressing.
# List of Ingredients:
→ Quinoa
01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Vegetables & Herbs
04 - 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 small cucumber, diced
06 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
07 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
→ Citrus Dressing
09 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
10 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
11 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
12 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
13 - 1 teaspoon orange zest
14 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
15 - 1/2 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
16 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
# Step-by-step Instructions:
01 - In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water and 1/2 teaspoon of salt to a boil. Add the rinsed quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until the water is fully absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and allow to cool to room temperature.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, toss together the cooled quinoa, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, finely chopped red onion, chopped parsley, and chopped mint until evenly distributed.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, orange juice, lemon zest, orange zest, minced garlic, honey or maple syrup, salt, and black pepper until the dressing is smooth and well emulsified.
04 - Pour the citrus dressing over the quinoa and vegetable mixture. Gently toss to coat all ingredients evenly, taking care not to crush the tomatoes.
05 - Taste the salad and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Serve chilled or at room temperature. Garnish with additional fresh herbs if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The citrus dressing does something sneaky to the quinoa, making every grain taste bright instead of earthy and heavy.
- It holds up beautifully in the fridge for two days without getting soggy or sad, which makes it the rare salad that actually improves overnight.
02 -
- If you dress the salad while the quinoa is still hot, the herbs will turn dark and slimy within minutes, so patience at the cooling stage is everything.
- The orange juice in the dressing is not optional, because it is the reason people keep asking what makes this taste different from ordinary lemon vinaigrette.
03 -
- Toast the rinsed quinoa in a dry pan for two minutes before adding water, because this simple step adds a nutty depth that most people skip entirely.
- Let the dressed salad sit at room temperature for fifteen minutes before eating, since cold mutes flavor and the citrus needs warmth to fully bloom on your tongue.