Edamame and Quinoa Salad (Print Version)

Protein-rich quinoa and edamame with fresh vegetables in bright citrus dressing

# What You’ll Need:

→ Grains and Legumes

01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 1 cup shelled edamame, fresh or frozen

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1/2 cucumber, diced
07 - 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
09 - 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped

→ Dressing

10 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice, approximately 1 lemon
12 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# How-To:

01 - Combine quinoa and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is tender. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
02 - Bring water to a boil in a small pot. Add edamame and cook for 3 to 4 minutes according to package instructions. Drain and set aside to cool.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled quinoa, edamame, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, cucumber, red onion, parsley, and mint.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, rice vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until thoroughly combined.
05 - Pour dressing over salad and toss gently to coat. Adjust seasoning to taste.
06 - Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It actually tastes better the next day when flavors have time to get cozy with each other, making it perfect for meal prep on a lazy Sunday.
  • One bowl, four servings, and you've got a lunch that feels like you tried harder than you actually did.
02 -
  • Don't dress the salad more than a few hours ahead if you like your cucumber crisp, because it will weep liquid into everything and things get soggy.
  • Taste the dressing before it goes on because quinoa is mild and won't mask a mistake, so this is your chance to adjust the salt and acid.
03 -
  • Keep your quinoa-to-vegetable ratio roughly equal by volume so nothing overwhelms the others, and your salad stays balanced.
  • The secret that changed everything for me was understanding that finishing salt matters more than table salt because it tastes less metallic and its crystals bring brightness instead of just saltiness.
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