Quinoa and Roasted Root Vegetable Salad
Quinoa and Roasted Root Vegetable Salad is a hearty, healthy, and flavorful salad that's perfect for a light lunch or dinner. The roasted root vegetables add a touch of sweetness and smokiness to the dish, while the quinoa provides a boost of protein and fiber. This salad is also very versatile, so you can customize it to your liking by adding different vegetables, herbs, or spices.
The idea for this recipe came to me one day when I was looking for a healthy and satisfying salad to make for lunch. I had some leftover quinoa in the fridge, and I wanted to use it up. I also had some root vegetables in the pantry, so I decided to roast them and add them to the salad. The result was a delicious and nutritious salad that I've been making ever since.
Prep time: 15 | Cook time: 30 | Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large carrot, peeled and diced
- 1 large parsnip, peeled and diced
- 1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Toss the root vegetables with the olive oil, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Spread the vegetables on a baking sheet and roast for 25-30 minutes, or until tender and browned.
- While the vegetables are roasting, cook the quinoa according to package directions.
- Once the quinoa and vegetables are cooked, combine them in a large bowl.
- Stir in the parsley.
- Serve warm or cold.
Why It Works
- Roasting the root vegetables brings out their natural sweetness and caramelizes them slightly, giving them a delicious smoky flavor.
- Quinoa is a good source of protein and fiber, making this salad a filling and satisfying meal.
- The combination of roasted root vegetables and quinoa creates a delicious and flavorful salad that's perfect for a light lunch or dinner.
- This salad is also very versatile, so you can customize it to your liking by adding different vegetables, herbs, or spices.