This hearty Smashed Chickpea and Quinoa Salad is a healthy take on potato salad: a creamy, fresh, and zesty dish that's perfect for your next cookout. A dairy-free, high-protein recipe!
There are fewer things better than a summer cookout.
You're surrounded by friends and family, sun shining on your face, a cold beverage in hand, laughter, the smell of a smoky grill and food.
Oh the food. It's totally the best part, am I right?
I really love the side dishes.
I'm not a big hamburger or hot dog fan (although I do love me a good veggie burger), so when I make my way over the food table, I'm sure to load up my plate with sides.
Of course, since it's me, you have to assume that I'm bringing something with quinoa to any party I attend. But quinoa isn't a standard “All-American” side (at least not yet).
So with this particular dish, I wanted to recreate a classic summer cookout dish and put my own healthy, quinoa salad spin on it.
My mind immediately jumped to potato salad; it's just one of those dishes someone inevitably brings. It's almost expected.
Personally, I'm not a fan of potato salad. Or pasta salad for that matter. There's just something about them that don't jive with me. It's probably all the dairy and crummy ingredients.
But what I do love, is that everyone has their own version; their own recipe and you're never quite sure what it's going to taste like.
Since everyone in my family enjoys a good old fashioned potato salad, I thought I'd bring a quinoa salad that was similar in taste and flavor but way more nutritious.
Not heavy on the starches. Skipping out on the dairy. And actually with some protein.
So in essence it's a quinoa salad that can act as a full meal or a side; you decide!
And when it comes to serving, have some fun!
The first time I served it, I used this quinoa salad as a dip for chips and crackers. The second, I wanted to have it for lunch and made little boats out of endives. Then finally, I've also had it on a sandwich (which I made with my quinoa bread) and I have to say, every time it was delish.
I can't wait to hear what you think of this recipe. I've made it four times so far and it's by far one of my favorites. Even Matt likes it, who is a total chickpea skeptic.
Leave your thoughts in the comments section below and let me know what your favorite backyard cookout dish is your favorite!
Smashed Chickpea Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
- 1 15 oz can chickpeas
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 1 large tomato diced
- 1/2 a cucumber diced
- 1/2 medium onion diced
- 1/4 cup vegan mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons mustard
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce optional
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 – 2 teaspoons dried dill
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse and drain chickpeas and add to a large bowl. Using a potato masher or fork, mash chickpeas until mostly crushed but still some beans remain intact.
- Add quinoa, tomato, cucumber, and onion and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, oil, mustard, sriracha, lemon juice and spices.
- Pour over salad and stir until all ingredients are coated. Taste and adjust seasonings.
- Serve immediately or chill in fridge for 1 – 2 hours. Salad can be made 1 – 2 days ahead of time (or can be used as leftovers).
Nutrition
Haven’t made the smashed chickpea quinoa salad until I find out how much Potassium it has in your recipes as I have chronic kidney disease (CKD) and we have to know before we use a recipe. Your recipes sound very good but got to find how much potassium first. Thanks for adding potassium in your recipes so more people can use them💕💕💕
I’m sorry, I don’t know how much potassium is in this recipe. I recommend using a nutritional calculator and plugging the recipe into that with the ingredients you will be using so you get an accurate nutritional count on any recipe you plan making. I hope this helps!
I see the ads, but I can not find the recipe any longer. Help! It is my favorite summer salad.
I love your smashed chickpea and quinoa salad. I have made it so many times but never saved it. Can you fix the link on your website our send me the recipe? Thank you so much!!!
It’s updated now 🙂
Could I replace the mayo with Greek yogurt?
Absolutely! I think that would be fabulous 🙂
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This was so delicious and refreshing on a hot day. Used my rice cooker for the quinoa; didn’t have to heat up the house. My additions were chives, avocado and cashews (they were left on the side as options). I left the dill on the table so that more could be sprinkled on.
Thanks so much, Alyssa.
So glad you enjoyed it! I swear I’ve made it six or seven times now. Definitely a staple in my house! xo
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Well I made the recipe just as written to serve at our celebration of America’s birthday. I also made our standard version of New England style potatoe salad that is filled with wonderful fresh ingresdients. Not junk as you tend to think as a part of this salad.
Two people tasted your version one thought it was okay and the other removed it from his plate and had real potato salad.
We had a terrific barbecue a bit different. We had a whole Prime Rib and each guest carved the size he wanted. Most times people are all served same size, place and fat componets. We had wonderful herbed corn served
with compound butters. We also had grilled eggplant and mushrooms all kinds. So we had a wonderful time and even tho your recipe was not the hit I thought it would be my husband was not upset at all. We also served charcoal roasted huge russet potaotos with all the wonderful toppings. My husband made the most grand garlic bread for the meal..it was to die for.
We then topped it all off with a patriotic style Tiramisu with champagne.
A wonderful day was had by all.
Is there such a thing as a Quinoa loaf..could it be made with Salmon as one does with the normal loaf?
Robert+
Just made this and it was delicious! The only change I made was substituting Tabasco sauce for the Sriracha sauce because that’s what I had on hand.
GREAT substitution; love it! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
This bears no resemblance whatsoever to potato salad, but is outrageously delicious! Followed recipe exactly (well, except for the fact that I rarely measure anything) leaving out onions which I cannot eat raw. Even my husband, who sticks up his nose at the mention of quinoa loved it.
I think it tastes similar to potato salad, but doesn’t quite look like it 🙂 Glad you both enjoyed it! It would be tasty with scallions or shallots if he can have those.
This sounds like something that I would not only try – but enjoy. But a question for you – what is Sriracha Sauce?
Great idea! I try to have a Gluten Free item for my club meetings and this will be on the list.
If you don’t have a fresh lemon, how much bottled lemon juice does it equate to?
Love this salad idea and the endive boats make a perfect dish to take to someone’s BBQ. Gonna try it tonight, thanks. Just want to tell you how happy I am with your blog. I have signed up for others only to cancel after a month or so. Have gotten so many good ideas from you I have started a file, “favs of queenofquinoa”. Your creative, fun and have made our meals. We aar already healthy aquatarians as we call ourselves, but you have added a lot more creativity to our meals and my husband thanks you.
Sounds wonderful. Will make it although what is Sriracha sauce? Where do you purchase it?
Trader Joe has a nice one with NO preservatives.
I have collected every recipe you have posted. I felt better eating quinoa, loved the ease of cooking and, generally, was pretty much addicted! It is with great sadness that I, without embarrassment, can no longer afford quinoa. I am on a limited month budget and just cannot forgo other necessary foods to eat quinoa. I am diabetic and that makes it even worse because the doctor said quinoa was permissible. I know I’m not alone in this catch 22. I am so tired of hearing about healthy eating and just when you think it’s all OK, prices double, triple, yada yada. My intent is not to unload my personal business but to make a point and to see if any of you wonderful people have any suggestions for a quinoa replacement that does not cost so much. Surely, there are a lot of people in a similar situation. Thanks for the great job you do and for any addition suggestions you may have for me.
Millet is an option. Toast it like it says on the package.
This recipe sounds yummy. What could I use as a substitute for mayo? not a fan…
Thank you
Denise
Yum! Love the looks of this and the ingredient list… I’ve been obsessed with dill lately. I have everything to make this and I’ll be trying it out today! 😉