Need a reset? This tasty, detox Quinoa Lentil Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing is packed with fiber, protein, and lots of healthy goodness – a real treat for lunch or dinner!
A few years ago, we went to California for a few weeks to enjoy the beach, hit up Disneyland for the kiddos, and just enjoy one of our most beloved places to visit.
One of our favorite things to do -- on trips and in general -- is to find new restaurants to try and test them out.
There's just something about being on a trip that makes it feel like you can put more effort into trying new things, at least it feels that way for us. Is it that way for you, too?
On one of our first days after arriving in Los Angeles, we met some good friends in Laguna Beach <--- LOVE BTW. They suggested we meet at this place called Active Culture that is a mix between vegan bowls and frozen yogurt. It's a small little cafe on the corner of the main street and is right by Laguna Beach's breathtaking ocean.
That was definitely a good call.
I ordered the Quinoa and Lentil Bowl and anxiously awaited it. We had just traveled for 2 ½ days with the kiddos in the car across the country so I was very much excited to get some healthy FRESH food.
When my salad bowl came out, it was piled high to the sky. I made a comment like, "Wow, that's a lot of food - I'll never finish this."
To which I immediately regretted saying because that pretty much guaranteed I'd be licking the bottom of the bowl after devouring it.
So I took a bite. And another one. And several more. It was SO good.
The flavors were vibrant and complimentary. It was crunchy, chewy, and tender, all at the same time. The kick of the lemon vinaigrette was amazing and really made everything pop.
It was everything I wanted.
We wound up driving back out to Laguna Niguel a second time on our trip to grab another salad for me so I could take note of everything in the salad to recreate it later. And to see that amazing ocean. Swoon.
Once we got back home to Austin, I took a shot at it and made a very comparable salad that is so easy to make at home. Yay. While it's not the exact same because it doesn't have the original "slammin' sauce" like the original, it is still incredibly yummy and like detox in a bowl. I've made it a ton already and it never gets old.
This is also a great option to swap in for any of the lunch or dinners in the meal prep for weight loss plan.
Quinoa Lentil Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Is Quinoa Good for You?
Quinoa is an amazingly healthy addition to this salad because it is packed full of yummy goodness, like protein, fiber, vitamins, and all nine essential amino acids, which most other grains lack. Combined with leafy greens and iron-and-magnesium-rich lentils, this quinoa lentil salad is seriously one of my favorite things to eat right now. It's so tasty, filling, and good for you.
What To Season Quinoa With
Just like with most grains, quinoa can taste quite bland without the right seasonings. That’s where this recipe comes in, which shows you how to make a lemon vinaigrette that goes great with the textures in this salad.
How To Make A Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing
Can we please talk about this lemon vinaigrette dressing? Tangy, versatile, and so easy to make, it is JUST what you need to make all those grains and veggies pop. All you need is a bit of freshly squeezed lemon juice, lemon zest, raw honey, Dijon mustard, sea salt, ground black pepper, and olive oil. It's salad making gold.
I like to make this quinoa lentil salad with lemon vinaigrette in bulk so I can grab it as a lunch or side to a dinner. It's packed full of protein, fiber, and other yummy healthy goodness and one of my favorite things to devour, especially when I'm feeling like I need a detox. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
P.S. If you can't get enough lentils, you can also check out my yummy Cold Lentil Salad, too! 🙂
Quinoa Lentil Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Equipment
*This post may contain affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.
Ingredients
For the Quinoa Lentil Salad
- ½ cup cooked quinoa*
- ½ cup cooked lentils**
- ¼ cup kale, packed
- ¼ cup cooked garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
- ¼ cup cucumber, peeled and diced
- ¼ cup carrot, ½ carrot, diced
- ¼ cup grape tomatoes, quartered
- 1 tablespoon red onion, finely diced
- ½ tablespoon raw sunflower seeds
For the Lemon Vinaigrette
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 teaspoon raw honey
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- If cooking the quinoa and lentils, see notes below for how to cook.
- To prep the kale, remove the leaves from the spine and then break the kale into bite size pieces. Toss the kale with a little olive oil and rub all over the kale, massaging it until the kale reduces in volume and becomes less stiff. (This makes a huge difference in the texture of the kale.)
- To make the lemon vinaigrette, combine the freshly squeezed lemon juice, lemon zest, raw honey, dijon mustard, sea salt, ground black pepper, and olive oil in a small mixing bowl, and whisk together until well combined.
- To assemble the salad, combine the cooked quinoa, cooked lentils, kale, garbanzo beans, diced cucumber, diced carrot, quartered grape tomatoes, finely diced red onion, and raw sunflower seeds in a large mixing bowl. Toss to combine.
- Drizzle over a few tablespoons of the lemon vinaigrette, and toss once more.
- For garnish, sprinkle a few more sunflower seeds over the top.
Video
Notes
**To cook the lentils, combine 1 cup dry lentils with 3 cups water, bring to boil, then simmer, covered for 30 minutes until tender. Once they’re cooked drain and set aside to cool.
***Cook time does not include cooked lentils or quinoa. Add 35 minutes if cooking.
Nutrition
This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.
Sue Kuzee
To clarify, it's 1 cup lentils to 2 cups water. Three cups of water makes it soupy and unusable in this recipe sadly. 🙁
Julie
I want to try this, Lacey, but your amounts still don't make sense. Whatever you think you fixed, did not get fixed. This would NOT serve 4. Not with 1/2 tablespoon of sunflower seeds. And a tablespoon of red onion. More like 1 serving. I'll use your ingredients because it sounds like a tasty combo but I'll have to figure out my own measurements I guess...
Liv
WOW from New Zealand!
I don’t think I’ve ever commented on a recipe but I had to after making this!
SO GOOD!
I cooked the quinoa and lentils in the same pot and grated in carrot and beetroot BUT I don’t think it’d matter what you add, the whole thing is flavoursome and textured and SOOOOO GOOOOD!
🥳🥳🥳
Eileen Armenante
Please just clarify one more time for me, is it:
1/2c - lentils/quinoa, cooked? or
1/2c - cooked lentils/quinoa
There's a big difference in volume and as I want to multiply the recipe for a crowd, I want to make sure I get it right!
Lacey Baier
It's COOKED lentils and COOKED quinoa. I provide directions in the notes for how to cook the quinoa, if needed.
marie
Your recipe ing still shows 1.2 cup ??
Cynthia Parish
Can this be stored in mason jars for meal prep?
Desiree Sherman
This sounds delicious however I don’t Entirely understand the recipe amounts. It says it’s 4 servings? The amounts in the recipe only add up to 2 1/4 cups. Is the amount in the recipe for one serving?
marcy youker
very good recipe, but you have to rinse the quinoa, otherwise it taste bitter,love your recipes, thanks for sharing.
MM
We doubled it so we would have enough for our family of five plus lunch the next day. I omitted the red onions but left everything in the same ratio. Delicious!
Pen
I'm new to cooking, when boiling the lentils and quinoa do we put salt in the water?
Rebecca
Delicious! Crisp, fresh & easy, thank you!
I'm seeing that there was an issue with the measurements on some of the ingredients, the way it's currently listed, is this correct? I did a 1/2 c of quinoa & 1/2 c of lentils... Thanks!
Em
I think the measurements are off. if you add up everything in cups it equals 2.25 cups. I don't see how that can make 4 servings of 1.25 cups/person or 5 cups.
Also can it be a vinaigrette when there is no vinegar?
Cathy
Hi Lacey,
I want to make this dish and want to be clear. You only use 1/2 c. of the cooked quinoa and 1/2 c. of the cooked lentils? It wouldn't seem that that small amount of quinoa and lentils would be enough for 6 servings. It sounds delicious.
Lacey Baier
Yikes! Thanks for pointing that out - it was a typo - it's supposed to be 4 cups. Good catch!
alissa
4 cups of lentils and quinoa combined or 4 of each? Thank you! Got my quinoa cooking now.
Lacey Baier
The recipe is correct as written now - I just updated the total servings, not any of the ingredient amounts. 🙂
Audrey
I am still confused on the amounts for 4 servings. Your comments say you updated it to 4 cup of quinoa and 4 cups of lentils but it is still showing 1/2 cup for each. Please clarify one more time.
Umm Abdullah
This was fantastic! Healthy and filling, and the dressing really does make everything 'pop'. I've made it twice... my teenage sons loved it, and so did a friend who hesitated to even try it because she hates most of the ingredients. Thanks 🙂
Lacey Baier
OMG it's so tasty and filling, right? S glad you all enjoyed it 🙂
Jan Brady
Can't wait to try this salad and look forward to viewing more. My husband is a type2 diatetic and we need to eat healthier. Thanks!
Lacey Baier
Awesome, this is the perfect salad for you and your hubbie! xoxo
Dustin
So glad you figured out how to make this.
Lacey Baier
Yea, seriously one of my fave salads EVER!
Deep Web
Made this for my husband one night and needless to say it’s on the menu again this week. Thank you, it was very easy and most of all delicious!!
Lacey Baier
Woot! Hooray for easy, filling, and DELICIOUS salads in the rotation!