Chickpea Arugula Quinoa Salad
This Chickpea Arugula Quinoa Salad is a high-protein vegan meal that's hearty, fresh, and naturally gluten-free. Tossed in a creamy lemon tahini dressing, it's perfect for meal prep and makes a satisfying lunch, dinner, or vibrant side dish.
Equipment
- 1 Saucepan
- 1 Large salad bowl
Ingredients
For the salad
- 1 cup quinoa
- 3 cups arugula
- 1 cup cooked chickpeas
- 1 red onion diced (~½ cup)
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds toasted
For the dressing
- ⅓ cup tahini
- ¼ cup 2 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1 small garlic clove minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
- 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
- ¾ teaspoon salt adjust to taste
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 3 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Rinse quinoa under cold water. Add to a pot with 2 cups of water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, and let it cool.
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together all the dressing ingredients until smooth and creamy.
- While the quinoa cools, rinse the chickpeas, wash and dry the arugula, slice the red onion, and toast the pumpkin seeds.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked quinoa, arugula, chickpeas, onion, and pumpkin seeds. Pour over the lemon tahini dressing.
- Gently toss everything together until well coated. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve fresh or chilled.
Notes
- You can use white quinoa if you don’t have tri-color—it works just as well!
- Swap arugula with spinach or baby kale if preferred.
- To toast pumpkin seeds, simply heat them in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring often, until golden and fragrant.
- Store the salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. For the best texture, keep the dressing separate and mix just before serving
Nutrition
Calories: 304kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 10gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.002gSodium: 303mgPotassium: 409mgFiber: 5gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 259IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 72mgIron: 3mg
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