Description
A vibrant and refreshing Thai Quinoa Crunch Salad that combines fluffy quinoa with fresh vegetables and a tangy, flavorful dressing. Perfect as a light lunch or a side dish, this salad offers a delightful mix of textures and authentic Thai-inspired flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Quinoa
- 1 cup quinoa
- 1 3/4 cups water
Dressing
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 small red chili pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Salad Vegetables and Garnish
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup shredded red cabbage
- 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/4 cup green onions, sliced
- 1/3 cup peanuts, chopped
Instructions
- Rinse and Prepare Quinoa: Rinse the quinoa thoroughly under cold water to remove any bitterness, then drain well.
- Cook Quinoa: In a saucepan, combine the rinsed quinoa and water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until the water is completely absorbed.
- Cool Quinoa: Remove the saucepan from heat, fluff the cooked quinoa gently with a fork, and allow it to cool to room temperature.
- Make Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, rice vinegar, fish sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, minced garlic, chopped chili pepper, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
- Assemble Salad: In a large bowl, combine the cooled quinoa, shredded carrots, shredded red cabbage, thinly sliced bell pepper, diced cucumber, chopped cilantro, and sliced green onions.
- Toss with Dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad and toss gently to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Add Peanuts and Serve: Just before serving, sprinkle the chopped peanuts on top to add a crunchy texture and extra flavor.
Notes
- Ensure quinoa is well rinsed to avoid bitterness.
- You can adjust the amount of chili pepper for desired heat level.
- This salad can be served immediately or chilled for an hour to meld flavors.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute fish sauce with soy sauce or tamari.
- Chopped peanuts can be toasted for enhanced flavor.
