Total Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Cold Quinoa Salad with Vegan Ranch Dressing
By: Recipes by Holistic Nutritionist
Updated Apr. 29th, 2024
Going to a BBQ as a vegan can be a tough because you’re always worried there won’t be enough for you to eat! But not anymore! This simple, yet delicious cold quinoa salad with a vegan ranch dressing will be your savior. With hunks of sweet potato, crunchy vegetables and seeds, you’ll be able eat with ease and stay fuller, longer.
- Gluten Free
- Corn Free
- Egg Free
- Sugar Free
- Vegetarian
Ingredients:
| 2 cups water | 1-1 ½ cup black beans | 4 green onions, sliced |
| 1 cup quinoa, uncooked | 1 red pepper, diced | 1 batch vegan ranch salad dressing (recipe below) |
| 1 cup sweet potato, cubed | 1 yellow pepper, diced | |
| ¼ cup flat leaf parsley | ½ cup pepitas, soaked for 8 hours, drained and rinsed |
| vegan ranch salad dressing: | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1/2 cup egg-free light mayonnaise | 1 tablespoon dried minced onions | 1/4 teaspoon sea salt |
| 1/3 cup non-dairy milk | 2 teaspoon parsley flakes | |
| 1 tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar | 1 clove garlic |
Directions
- Bring your water and quinoa to a boil over medium heat in a saucepan. Once boiled, lower heat and bring to a simmer with the lid on. After roughly 10-12 minutes, remove the saucepan from the heat and remove the lid. To cool the quinoa quickly, place in the freezer or fridge while you prepare the rest of your salad.
- Bring your sweet potatoes to a boil in lightly salted water. You want them to be easily pierced with a fork. Once ready, remove any excess water and run the potatoes under cold water, set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine all other ingredients, mixing until well combing.
- In a separate bowl place all ingredients for rach dressing in a blender and blend until smooth. Set aside.
- Mix in your quinoa and drained sweet potatoes to the large bowl. Mix in your vegan ranch dressing. Stir until well incorporated.
- Serve cold right away, or leave in the fridge covered until you’re ready!
Make It This Way
If you want more of a crunch in your salad, instead of soaking the pepitas just toss them in. For an added taste, why not try adding some other fresh herbs, like basil, cilantro or mint!
Try This
Make this dish ahead of time and let it sit together overnight. The time will only help increase the flavours. This also makes a great lunch salad!
