Description
This Crunchy Mint & Pistachio Quinoa Salad is the perfect balance of fresh herbs, tangy feta, and crunchy pistachios—all tied together with a simple lemon-honey dressing.
Ingredients
Units
- 3/4 cup dry quinoa, cooked and cooled (about 1.5 - 2 cups cooked)
- 1 English cucumber, small diced (about 2 cups total)
- 1 (15-ounce) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup edamame, shelled (ok to omit if you don't have any)
- 1 cup feta cheese crumbles, plus more for garnish
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh mint
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/2 cup pistachios, roughly chopped
- 1 small avocado, diced (store separately if saving for meal prep)
For the Dressing:
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Juice of 1 large lemon or 2 limes (about 3 tablespoons lemon or lime juice)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
Instructions
- Cook the quinoa according to package instructions (generally simmer with a 2:1 ratio of water to quinoa) then set it aside to cool, fluffing it will a fork as it cools. (Pro tip: Be sure to cook all of the water out of the quinoa to make sure it’s not soggy. Optionally, spread the cooked quinoa on a baking sheet to cool it quickly and keep it fluffy.)
- Chop: While the quinoa cooks, dice the cucumber and avocado, rinse and drain the chickpeas, and chop the mint, cilantro, and pistachios. Blanch the edamame in hot water for 3-4 minutes to defrost if it’s frozen.
- Whisk the dressing: In a the bottom of the mixing bowl or in a jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon (or lime) juice, honey, and salt until emulsified.
- Mix: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, cucumber, chickpeas, edamame, feta, mint, cilantro, avocado, and pistachios. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
- Serve and store: Transfer the salad to a serving dish and garnish with extra feta crumbles and a sprinkle of chopped pistachios for a pretty presentation. If storing for meal prep, consider storing the avocado separately so it doesn’t brown while it sits in the fridge.
Keeps converted in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.