10-Minute Spicy Moroccan Quinoa Salad
Ready in 10 minutes, this healthy Moroccan quinoa salad combines fresh veggies and a spicy turmeric-tahini dressing. Vegan + gluten-free too!
Fast and easy. Thatโs how we like it around here, right?
Judging fromย your response to my 10-minute quinoa fried rice recipe, Iโve realized we have yet another thing in common: the desire to have a tasty, healthy meal ready for us as quickly as humanly possible.ย Just another reason why weโre friends.
So Iโm bringing back the 10-minute goodness, and today itโs cominโ at ya in the form of a dreamy Moroccan quinoa salad.ย
Weโre starting with a base of fresh spinach, then adding julienned carrots, chopped carrots, raw cashews, thinly sliced green onions, chickpeas and quinoa of course. Itโs a glorious combination of crunch, sweetness and fill-you-up protein.
But quite honestly, itโs the dressing that makes this salad so sensational.
When it comes to dressings, Iโm all about creamy. The creamier the better in fact. So typically, that means I like my dressing to have a base of either cashews or tahini. Tahini is my go-to since I love love LOVE the flavor, and I find it pairs nicely with more eclectic and international flavors. <– my fave
This dressing is a simple blend of tahini, lemon juice and apple cider vinegar with a bunch of fun spices added in: coriander, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon and cayenne pepper. The flavor profile is pretty complex, withย a lightness fromย the coriander and cumin, aย soothing quality fromย the turmeric, warmth fromย the cinnamon and heat from the cayenne. All combined together and they're turned intoย one kick ass dressing.
Iโm totally keeping a bottle of this in myย fridge to put on EVERYTHING.
More Healthy Moroccan Inspired Recipes to try:
- Detox Moroccan Lentil Soup
- Moroccan Quinoa Salad
- One-Pot Moroccan Lentils + Quinoa
- Slow Cooker Moroccan Chickpea Stew
- Saffron Middle Eastern Quinoa Salad
- Curry Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Bowls
10-Minute Spicy Moroccan Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
for the salad:
- 4 cups chopped spinach
- 1 large carrot julienned or shredded
- 4 - 6 medjool dates
- 2 green onions
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 1 cup cooked chickpeas drained + rinsed
- 1/2 cup raw cashew pieces
for the dressing
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/4 teaspoon coriander
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- 1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne depending on the level of spice you like
- Pinch of cinnamon
- Salt + pepper to taste
- Water as needed
Instructions
- Add the spinach to a large mixing bowl and set aside.
- Prepare your other ingredients, starting with the carrots. Using a mandolin slicer, julienne peeler or a box grater to get long strips (about 1" long). Add these to the bowl.
- Next, pit and chop the medjool dates into quarters (or a little smaller) and add them to the bowl.
- Thinly slice the green onions, using both the white and green parts, and add those to the bowl as well.
- Finally, add the remaining salad ingredients to the mixing bowl and set aside while you whip up the dressing.
- Combine all dressing ingredients (minus water) into a bowl. Whisk together until incorporated and smooth. The dressing will be too thick here, so add just enough water so that it's pourable - start with 1/2 teaspoon and add in 1/2 teaspoon increments until you get the desired consistency. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
- Gently toss the salad ingredients together to combine. Pour dressing over salad and toss again until everything is evenly coated.
- Transfer to serving dishes, garnish with a few more green onions and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
If you make this recipe, make sure to snap a pic and share it on Instagram using #SIMPLYQUINOA – I want to see your own quinoa creations!
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Hi! This is a very good recipe! Do you think it can store in the fridge for the next day?
Thank you!
Didn’t have Dates I used craisens instead a keeper!
That’s an awesome substitution!
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Loving the sound of this dressing & I just happen to have all the ingredients already so will try this dish tonight!
I have no idea what tahini is. But going to find out, and going to try this!!!!
Love salad and love moroccan food. The perfect combo!!
Exactly miryam. Just perfect.
Just give me a glass of that tahini dressing….I will literally drink that! Hahaha!
I made this and is simply delicous — I added some dried apricots too and all in all I will be making this again and often
Looks yummy and healthy, gonna try
My favorite use of quinoa is in salads and this one looks perfect; can’t wait to try it.
OMG scrumptious. I love that you added dates. They add an incredible amount of flavor to any salad. Plus this is such an easy superfood lunch. Pinning!
This is my kind of recipe!
Love the spicy kick in your quinoa! Your tahini-turmeric dressing sounds heavenly for a lover of spices like me. ๐
I love the flavors in this salad especially the salad. This could definitely be a meal all by itself.
Well you know how much I love quinoa and this dish looks like it will be perfect!