Vietnamese Quinoa Salad
Prep
20 mins
Cook
25 mins
Servings
6
Difficulty
Easy
My favorite way to bring Vietnamese flavors into weeknight dinners is this vibrant quinoa salad. Fresh cucumber, carrots, and cilantro combine with a zesty lime and fish sauce dressing that tastes like you spent hours preparing it. What I love most is that it comes together in under 50 minutes, making it perfect for busy evenings. The quinoa provides complete protein with all nine essential amino acids, so you're getting serious nutritional benefits in every bite. Best of all, the ingredients are simple and budget friendly, and everything can be prepped ahead of time for easy meal prep throughout the week.
Ella x
Ingredients
- 400quinoa
- 500 kgcucumber(peeled and thinly sliced)
- 300 kgcarrots(peeled and grated)
- 200 kgred onion(thinly sliced)
- 100 kgcilantro(chopped)
- 150 mllime juice(freshly squeezed)
- 50 mlfish sauce(store-bought or homemade)
- 50 mlrice vinegar(store-bought or homemade)
- 30 mlpeanut oil(for dressing)
- 10 gsalt(to taste)
- 5 gpepper(to taste)
- 400diced chicken breast(optional, cooked and diced)
Detail level
Instructions
- 1
Rinse the quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer and cook according to package instructions. Set aside to cool.
Tip: Use a non-stick pan or rice cooker for easy quinoa cooking.
- 2
In a large bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, cucumber, carrots, red onion, and cilantro.
Tip: Adjust the quantity of each ingredient to your liking.
- 3
In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, fish sauce, rice vinegar, and peanut oil to make the dressing.
Tip: If using fish sauce, you can also use a combination of soy sauce and lime juice for a vegan version.
- 4
Pour the dressing over the quinoa mixture and toss to combine.
Tip: Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- 5
If using diced chicken breast, add it to the quinoa mixture and toss to combine.
Tip: You can also add cooked shrimp or tofu for added protein.
- 6
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Tip: This salad is perfect for a light and refreshing lunch or dinner.
- 7
Just before serving, garnish with additional cilantro and lime wedges if desired.
Tip: This salad is also great for potlucks or picnics, as it's easy to transport and serves many.
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