Description
Favorite Quinoa Salad is a fresh, vibrant, and nutritious dish combining protein-packed quinoa with crisp vegetables and savory smoked turkey bacon. Enhanced by fresh herbs and a tangy dressing with apple cider vinegar and lemon juice, it is perfect for any meal and meal prep-friendly.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- 4–5 strips smoked turkey bacon
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, diced
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- ¼ cup red onion, finely sliced
- Handful fresh parsley, roughly chopped
- Handful fresh mint, roughly chopped
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (natural)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (natural)
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the quinoa: Rinse 1 cup of quinoa thoroughly under cold water to remove bitterness, then cook it in 2 cups of water. Bring to a gentle boil, cover, and reduce heat; let it simmer for 15 minutes or until the water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let it sit covered for 5 minutes before fluffing it up with a fork.
- Prepare the smoked turkey bacon: While the quinoa cooks, slice 4-5 strips of smoked turkey bacon into bite-sized pieces. Cook in a non-stick skillet over medium heat until crispy and browned. Drain on paper towels to remove excess oil and set aside.
- Chop the veggies and herbs: Dice 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, 1 cucumber, and 1 red bell pepper into bite-sized pieces. Finely slice ¼ cup of red onion. Roughly chop a handful each of fresh parsley and mint.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (natural), and 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (natural). Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Combine and toss: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, crispy smoked turkey bacon, chopped veggies, and herbs. Pour the dressing over everything and toss gently until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve immediately or chill for 30 minutes to let the flavors meld even more.
Notes
- Rinse quinoa before cooking to keep it fluffy and nutty without bitterness.
- Cook smoked turkey bacon until just crispy for the best contrast with fresh vegetables.
- Use fresh parsley and mint rather than dried to keep the salad lively and aromatic.
- Adjust acidity with lemon juice and apple cider vinegar to suit your taste fully.
- This salad tastes even better after chilling for a bit to let the flavors develop.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
Keywords: quinoa salad, smoked turkey bacon salad, healthy salad, gluten free, easy meal, fresh herbs, colorful salad
