This Quinoa Spinach Salad Recipe is a quick and simple salad that uses quinoa, spinach, onions, tomatoes, avocado, basil, and is topped with a tangy salad dressing. It's perfect for lunch or as an easy side dish to your favorite meal.
Next time try this Kale Superfood Salad for an easy side dish or lunch.
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Why you'll love this recipe
✔️ Lots of bright fresh flavors which are perfect during the winter months.
✔️ It's healthy, full of iron, protein and so many other things that are good for you.
✔️ This recipe is simple to follow, and budget-friendly.
Ingredients
For the exact measurements, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- baby spinach
- garbanzo beans
- cooked quinoa
- cucumber
- radishes
- green onions
- celery
- salad dressing
- salt & pepper
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!
- Cook the quinoa drain well, set aside to cool.
- Add the spinach to a large salad bowl.
- Drain the garbanzo beans & rinse well - add them to the bowl.
- Clean the cucumber, radishes, green onions and celery, thinly slice.
- Add the quinoa to the spinach and top with the vegetables.
- Season with salt & pepper, toss with a store bought Italian salad dressing or make your own red wine vinaigrette. Whichever you prefer!
Equipment
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- saucepan
- colander
- large salad bowl
- knife and cutting board
FAQ's
Quinoa is a seed that you can eat. It's full of protein and has many other healthy things in it like iron, fiber u0026amp; magnesium.
Add one cup of quinoa and one and a half cups of water to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low, allow to simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and leave covered for another 5 minutes.
You can find quinoa at your local grocery store near the rice.
Tips
- If you don't have Italian dressing on hand, a vinagrete or even a quick dressing made with olive and vinegar would taste great on this salad.
- Make sure that you drain the quinoa and the garbanzo beans well before adding them to your salad you don't want the moisture to make your salad soggy.
- Slice your vegetables thinly and evenly so that you get delicious vegetables mixed in with your salad greens.
Variations
- Grape or cherry tomatoes can be added to this recipe for extra flavor.
- You can add leftover chicken or steak to the salad for more protein.
- For something different, you can use brown rice or couscous instead of quinoa.
- Feel free to add any vegetables that you enjoy to this salad.
- Goat cheese would also make a tangy and flavorful to this fresh salad recipe.
Storage
This salad is best served freshly made. However it can be assembled and stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
Just make sure that you do not dress the salad if you are going to prepare it ahead.
Related recipes
- Southwest Salad Recipe - I love the combination in this salad.
- Garden Salad Recipe with Creamy Vinaigrette - all the bright fresh goodness in an a bright fresh salad.
- Honey Glazed Orange Salad with Pistachios - this is super yummy, oranges and pistachios to go well together.
- Healthy Superfood Salad - loads of crunch and goodness in this simple side dish!
Serve with
This Spinach Garbanzo Bean Salad is great by itself but I like to pair it with;
- French Onion Chicken Bake - it's perfect with the rich gravy!
- Instant Pot Pork Loin with Balsamic Glaze - another terrific combination - that glaze is delicious!
- Fresh Rolls made from frozen dough - so easy to make and the perfect side dish any meal!
Don't forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite products! 🛍️
If you love this recipe please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating!
Spinach Garbanzo Bean Salad
Ingredients
- 8 cups baby spinach
- 14.5 oz garbanzo beans
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- ½ cucumber
- 4 radishes
- 2 green onions
- 1 stalk celery
- salad dressing
- salt & pepper to taste
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Instructions
- Start by cooking the quinoa in well salted water. Follow the package directions. When cooked, remove from heat & drain well.
- Add the spinach to a large salad bowl. Drain the garbanzo beans & rinse well - add them to the bowl.
- Clean the cucumber, use a spoon & remove the seeds if desired, thinly slice. Also slice the radishes, green onions & celery - I sliced them on the bias, just to make them a bit prettier.
- Add the quinoa to the spinach and top with the vegetables.
- Season with salt & pepper, toss with salad dressing and serve.
christine
I'm so jealous of this experience. Looks beautiful. The salad sounds delicious. I love using quinoa in salads too. Oh and those eggs you got look marvelous!
Healing Tomato
Spinach and garbanzos make for a very delicious salad. I never thought of putting the 2 together. The quinoa adds a nice texture to this recipe.
Bowl Me Over
I'm such a quinoa fan - great flavor & texture, thanks Healing Tomato!!!
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist
I love that you added quinoa to this salad. I love the extra texture.
Bowl Me Over
Thanks Michelle!
KC the Kitchen Chopper
This is a beautiful dish. Wonderful colors. Healthful ingredients all pulled together with your creative dressing. Just one question about the dressing. You list Red Wine "Vinaigrette" which sounds like a dressing in and of itself. Or did you mean Red Wine Vinegar? Either way it sounds super yummy with the marmalade!
Bowl Me Over
Oh my gosh, thank you so much for bringing that to my attention KC - it's been that way forever (embarrassed!), yes you are correct it should read vinegar - it's an easy and delicious vinaigrette and the marmalade gives it just a sweet touch! Thank you!!
Florian @ContentednessCooking
This looks delicious! Love easy meals! 🙂
Tara
Everything looks divine but I am in love with your salad!!
Bowl Me Over
Thank you so much Tara - we really enjoyed it and are having it for dinner again tonight. I hope you give it a try!
Patty Haxton Anderson
Thanks for sharing the photos of your weekend and those breakfast items looked great. Your salad is simply gorgeous itself.
Suzy | The Mediterranean Dish
A recipe after my own heart!
Bowl Me Over
Thanks Suzy!
Angela
Looks like a beautiful place you visited!! And this salad, yup I am going to love this one for sure!
Bowl Me Over
Thanks Angela!!!
peter @feedyoursoultoo
Thx for sharing the experience and the food!
Bowl Me Over
You bet Peter - I hope you give this a try!
linda spiker
Fabulous and love those eggs!
Bowl Me Over
The eggs were just delish and a great weekend! Always love a great salad!!