Zesty Confetti Salad with Quinoa

Brighten up your table with the vibrant flavors and colors of Zesty Confetti Salad with Quinoa! This healthy, gluten-free salad combines fluffy quinoa with a medley of crisp diced vegetables, including red and yellow bell peppers, cucumber, juicy grape tomatoes, and zesty red onion. Fresh parsley and cilantro add a burst of herbal freshness, while a tangy citrus dressing blended with olive oil, lemon, lime, honey, and a hint of cumin ties everything together for a perfectly balanced flavor. Ready in just 30 minutes, this chilled salad is a refreshing option for meal prep, summer picnics, or as a light, nutrient-packed side dish. Serve it as a standalone star or pair it with your favorite protein for a wholesome, colorful feast!

Nutriscore Rating: 73/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1 medium, diced red bell pepper
• 1 medium, diced yellow bell pepper
• 1 medium, diced cucumber
• 1 cup, halved grape tomatoes
• 0.5 small, finely chopped red onion
• 0.25 cup, chopped fresh parsley
• 0.25 cup, chopped fresh cilantro
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
• 0.5 teaspoon (to taste) kosher salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the quinoa under cold water using a fine-mesh sieve to remove any bitterness.

Step 2

In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed quinoa and 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until the water is absorbed.

Step 3

Once cooked, fluff the quinoa with a fork and allow it to cool to room temperature.

Step 4

While the quinoa is cooling, prepare the vegetables. Dice the red and yellow bell peppers, cucumber, and chop the red onion finely. Halve the grape tomatoes.

Step 5

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled quinoa, diced bell peppers, cucumber, grape tomatoes, red onion, parsley, and cilantro.

Step 6

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, lime juice, honey, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.

Step 7

Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss well to combine.

Step 8

Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or lime juice, if needed.

Step 9

Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

Step 10

Serve chilled or at room temperature as a side dish or light meal.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1536.5 grams (1536.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1167

Total Fat 55.80g	72%
Saturated Fat 6.90g	35%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.10g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1545mg	67%
Total Carbohydrate 141.80g	52%
Dietary Fiber 8.80g	31%
Total Sugars 21.10g
Protein 30.90g	62%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 169mg	13%
Iron 9mg	49%
Potassium 1780mg	38%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 42.1%

Protein: 10.4%

Carbs: 47.5%