Moroccan Chickpea Quinoa Power Salad Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2024)

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Color,texture, and crunch! This Moroccan inspired chickpea andquinoa power salad has it all! We’re using carrots, parsley, dates, and golden raisins to make this salad extra special! Serve as a main course or as a side!

Moroccan Chickpea Quinoa Power Salad Recipe | Little Spice Jar (1)Guys. I’m on a salad binge.It’s all about the rainbow of veggies/dried fruit in this quinoa power salad drizzle with possibly THE easiest honey-lemon dressing.

We take our salads seriously around here.

SO much goodness loaded into this one salad guys. I’m kinda of still in awe over a bowl of good-for-you salad that will keep you going all day long but only calls for simple ingredients with just a wee bit of chopping involved. Okay, I kid, it’s more than a ‘wee’ bit but I promise friends, it so so worth it. And hey, that’s just calories burnt, right?

Also, this one goes out to my vegan friends out there! HEY! It’s me, the person inside the person that vowed to eat more veggies and lighter meals this year, but kinda sorta lost her way there for a bit. But i’m here! And this salad goes out to you.

Moroccan Chickpea Quinoa Power Salad Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2)

Moroccan Chickpea Quinoa Power Salad Recipe | Little Spice Jar (3)Quinoa Power Salad situation: we’ve got cooked quinoa, shredded carrots, a whole can of chickpeas (or do you call them garbanzo beans?), tons of chopped parsley, golden raisins, scallions, dates, and one handful of chopped pistachios that in all my excitement I completely forgot to picture in the bowl of delicious moroccan salad goodness. How silly of me! Toss that all up and drizzle with the honey lemon dressing. And just look at all that beautiful color!

Andlet me tell you about that zippy honey-lemon dressing! It’s as simple as tossing a little cumin, olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and a hint of chili power into a mason jar, capping and giving it a few good shakes until the dressing mixes up. BAM!

Let’s talk about the perfect power salad for lunches, picnics and barbecues. This is the ideal salad to makewhen you’re watching what you eat and your picnic friends have nothing green/veggie/healthy on the table.

Moroccan chickpea salad to the rescue indeed.

Confessions of a quinoa power salad lover:

  • The substitution/additions for this salad are limitless! Seriously friends! MAKE IT YOUR OWN. I want to dry chopped dried apricots, try roasting the chickpeas, subbing in a little cilantro, maybe trying it with brown riceinstead of quinoa.I’ve got another version of this moroccan salad on the blog where I used chopped walnuts and left out the quinoa entirely! It’s perfect for when you’re already serving bread/rice on the side and still want this in your life.
  • It will last! Like, what is considered forever in salad years. As in I tossed this salad with the dressing and packed away the leftovers and had them 2 days later and it was still delicious. The refrigerator time gives the quinoa a chance to soak up all the honey-lemon goodness. The carrots, dates, and raisins all have a chance to mesh flavors and boy oh boy it’s the perfect meal for a quick desk lunch or a busy day in the kitchen.
  • HERBACIOUS! that’s how I describe this quinoa salad. After all, I am chopping up an entire bunch of flat leaf parsley and tossing it in like it’s my job. But as I mentioned before, you can swap some of the parsley for a little chopped cilantro or mint. I’m totally not a mint girl so I didn’t but you absolutely can. Oddly enough, I LOVED mint as a child. Um… what CHILD loves mint? ? Perhaps one that’s destined to be a food blogger? ?
  • This has seriously become my go-to salad. I kid you not, while the hubby is out of town, I totally binge on this salad. It’s lunch, it’s a side for a couple of dinners, and it makes me happy.

Moroccan Chickpea Quinoa Power Salad Recipe | Little Spice Jar (4)This Quinoa Power Salad is ALL that and a bag of chips. And though it may not contain actual chips, it has so much CRUNCH from the nuts and carrots that it’s got me a little like, WHOA.

Bask in the glow of your salad making skills.

Let this simple protein-packed power salad make your lunchtime a little more delicious.

Moroccan Chickpea Quinoa Power Salad Recipe | Little Spice Jar (5)

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Prep Time15 minutes

Cook Time15 minutes

Total Time30 minutes

Color, texture, and crunch! This Moroccan inspired chickpea and quinoa power salad has it all! We're using carrots, parsley, dates, and golden raisins to make this salad extra special! Serve as a main course or as a side!

Moroccan Chickpea Quinoa Power Salad Recipe | Little Spice Jar (6)

Ingredients

power salad:

  • 1 ½ cups cooked quinoa (or ½ cup uncooked)
  • 1 cup matchstick carrots
  • 4 scallions, thinly sliced
  • 1 (15 ounce) can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • ⅓ cup chopped dates
  • ⅓ cup golden raisins
  • ¼ cup chopped pistachios
  • 1 bunch flat-leaf parsley, chopped

honey-lemon dressing:

  • ½ teaspoon cumin powder
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon honey (maple syrup or brown sugar for vegans)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon chili powder

Instructions

  1. POWER SALAD: Cook the quinoa according to package directions. Allow the quinoa to cool completely before tossing with the salad ingredients. Toss ingredients together.
  2. HONEY-LEMON DRESSING: Combine the ingredients for the dressing in a small mason jar and give it a few good shakes until the dressing mixes through. Drizzle the dressing into the salad and toss the salad to combine everything. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for later!

Notes

  • Sometimes when you buy parsley, the bunch is HUGE. If that is the case for you, just use ¾ bunch. It's really up to you how much parsley/herbs you want to use. Also, some of the parsley can be replaced with mint or cilantro if you'd like.
  • When preparing the quinoa, add a teaspoon of oil and sauté the quinoa for about 1 minute before adding the water and cooking. This gives the quinoa a really great nutty/toasted flavor which goes really well with the flavors of this salad!

Have you made this recipe?

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and a comment below. You can also share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #LITTLESPICEJAR, I'd love to see what you made!

IS THIS A GOOD CHOICE FOR YOU?

Moroccan Chickpea Quinoa Power Salad Recipe | Little Spice Jar (7)

The calculated nutritional facts are for 8 servings. As always for the most accurate calorie count, calculate them using the specific brands you’ve used to preparethe recipe.

Moroccan Chickpea Quinoa Power Salad Recipe | Little Spice Jar (8)

If you like this recipe, you might also like:

superfood broccoli salad with creamy poppy seed dressing

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Moroccan Chickpea Quinoa Power Salad Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2024)

FAQs

What are the benefits of quinoa and chickpeas? ›

The Benefits

Pairing chickpeas with whole grains like quinoa offers a balanced complement of essential amino acids, especially beneficial for those with plant-based diets. What's more? Protein and fibre work together to help promote feelings of fullness, which can aid in weight management.

Why is quinoa salad good? ›

Quinoa is a nutritious choice for people looking for plant-based protein sources—it's a complete protein, containing all nine of the essential amino acids. Plus, its dietary fiber may help improve your digestion. Likewise, its fiber and protein content can help make you feel more satiated than other grains.

What are the effects of eating quinoa everyday? ›

The fiber in quinoa can also help with cholesterol and blood sugar levels, lowering your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Quinoa is rich in antioxidants, which can prevent damage to your heart and other organs. A diet high in antioxidants has been linked with a decreased risk of heart disease.

What are 2 positive health effects of consuming chickpeas? ›

Chickpeas are high in fiber, protein, and healthy fats and have a low GI. Potential benefits of chickpeas include helping control blood sugar, manage weight, and support heart and gut health.

Is it okay to eat quinoa salad everyday? ›

You can eat one-two cups of cooked quinoa in a day. You should avoid eating it if you experience stomachache, itchiness or vomiting after consuming it. A study by Harvard Public School of Health has reported that eating a bowl of quinoa daily is healthy and without any side effects.

Is quinoa a protein or carb? ›

Quinoa is considered a carbohydrate because it contains many carbs per serving. Although it contains some protein, the macronutrient distribution is closer to what you find in other grains and starches.

Is quinoa healthier than rice? ›

Quinoa is rich in both fiber and protein, contains a much higher amount of other nutrients, and has a similar fluffy texture to the rice. A cup of quinoa contains twice more protein and about 5 g more fiber than white rice. Quinoa contains fewer calories and carbohydrates than white rice.

What does quinoa do for the liver? ›

In summary, quinoa exhibits a series of beneficial effects in the prevention of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and is suggested to be a component of a daily diet for the prevention of NAFLD.

Are chickpeas good for you everyday? ›

The benefits of chickpeas

Chickpeas are high in fiber. In fact, the one-cup serving represents “roughly about almost half of the recommended daily fiber intake for adults,” Lane says. This promotes satiety (in other words, it helps you feel full longer) so you don't overeat.

What are the beauty benefits of eating quinoa? ›

Quinoa can benefit the skin in a variety of ways, including nourishment and hydration, antioxidant protection, collagen support and anti-aging effects, soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, skin repair and renewal, and suitability for sensitive skin.

References

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