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A large lunch serving of arugula quinoa salad on a plate.
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Zesty Arugula Quinoa Salad

This Arugula Quinoa Salad combines the nutty flavor of quinoa with the peppery flavor of arugula for a naturally gluten-free side dish or main.
Course Dinner, Lunch, Side
Cuisine American
Keyword arugula quinoa salad, zesty quinoa salad
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 6 -8
Calories 412kcal
Author Jamie

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups uncooked quinoa rinsed
  • 2 ¼ - 2 ⅔ cups water or vegetable broth for cooking quinoa
  • ½ pound green beans ends trimmed and chopped into 1 inch pieces
  • ¼ large red onion sliced very thinly
  • ½ cup dried sweetened cranberries or fresh chopped strawberries
  • 1 cup whole roasted almonds roughly chopped
  • 4 cups fresh arugula plus more as desired

Dressing

  • 1 medium lemon zested and juiced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 ½ tablespoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon brown mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Quinoa: Make the quinoa by any method you like and allow to cool before combining with the salad ingredients.
    Instant Pot: I use the instant pot by adding quinoa and 2 ¼ cups of vegetable broth to the pot. Then stir to prevent sticking and set for 3 minutes on high pressure. When finished cooking, allow the steam to release naturally for 10 minutes before manually releasing any remaining pressure and fluffing the quinoa with a fork. 
    Stove top: Add quinoa and 2 ⅔ cups of water or broth to a medium saucepan. Bring the liquid to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to simmer for 15 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa is tender. Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Then fluff with a fork and allow to cool, partially covered.
  • Dressing: Mix the dressing ingredients together in a jar by whisking or covering the jar with a tight lid and shaking. 
  • Assemble: In a large bowl or pot, combine all salad ingredients. Pour the dressing over and mix gently. Serve and enjoy! 

Notes

Storage: Store this zesty arugula quinoa salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 412kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Sodium: 106mg | Potassium: 582mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 587IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 127mg | Iron: 4mg