This green salad is a refreshing and healthy way to get your daily dose of vegetables. It's packed with protein from the quinoa and edamame, and the Brussels sprouts and red onion add a nice crunch. The lemon-olive oil dressing is light and flavorful, and the cilantro adds a bright, fresh flavor. This salad is perfect for a light lunch or dinner, and it's also a great way to use up leftover quinoa.
This salad was born out of a desire to create a healthy and delicious meal that could be easily made on a weeknight. I had some leftover quinoa in the fridge, and I wanted to find a way to use it up. I also had some edamame and Brussels sprouts that I needed to use up, so I decided to combine them all into a salad. I added some red onion for crunch and cilantro for flavor, and I finished it off with a simple lemon-olive oil dressing. The result was a salad that was both healthy and delicious, and it was also really easy to make. I've been making this salad ever since, and it's become one of my favorite go-to meals.
Prep time: 15 | Cook time: 15 | Serves: 4
Ingredients
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
1 cup edamame, shelled
1 cup Brussels sprouts, thinly sliced
1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Rinse the quinoa in a fine-mesh sieve until the water runs clear.
Combine the quinoa and water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the quinoa is cooked through and the water has been absorbed.
Fluff the quinoa with a fork and set aside to cool slightly.
In a large bowl, combine the quinoa, edamame, Brussels sprouts, red onion, and cilantro.
Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.
Serve immediately.
Why It Works
The quinoa adds protein and fiber to the salad, making it a filling and satisfying meal.
The edamame adds protein and a nutty flavor to the salad.
The Brussels sprouts add a nice crunch and a slightly bitter flavor to the salad.
The red onion adds a sharp flavor to the salad.
The cilantro adds a bright, fresh flavor to the salad.
The lemon-olive oil dressing is light and flavorful, and it complements the flavors of the salad perfectly.