This Thai quinoa salad recipe was at first posted in 2013, the 12 months I met my now-partner. I really do not want to modify this write-up much too considerably mainly because frankly, I want to maintain the written reminiscences below about our initial date. It is so sweet.

What I did alter about this recipe was the photography, ideas, and approaches to make it gluten free & vegan. Whoo hoo!

For people of you who never know, this recipe is one particular of the most well-known recipes on SRCooking!

So without having further ado, here’s the tale about how we initial fulfilled:

I just got back again from trip in Arizona. I experienced so several entertaining nights I cannot even start out to convey to you. The food stuff, the margs, riding all-around in a red convertible, soaking up the sunshine, swimming at night, baseball game titles, Mexican food stuff, Froyo, as well as a journey to Sprinkles cupcakes!

I want to be on family vacation for the relaxation of my daily life.

Funny ample, I also went on a date through my excursion! (The most random matters happen to me, I swear.) I met him as a result of a close friend and we hit it off. On our day, we went to the zoo, ate actually good Italian food, and laughed hysterically. I don’t believe he reads my site, so in my view, it is completely ok to converse about how sweet he was.

FYI: I instructed him about the lifetime-switching cookies and I imagine he was bought.

Seriously you men, I have to halt telling people about the taste profile of brown butter and individuals freaking cookies it’s just also nerdy. Particularly on dates.

But but but! What I actually require to do is to appear to grips with actuality and take that there are no more margs or FroYo in my near long run. All I have to have in my life now is a beautiful wholesome salad.

You in?

Components in this Thai-inspired quinoa salad

I really like that this salad can simply be vegan and gluten-cost-free, and is amazingly crunch-tastic (not a term, but need to be). There’s masses of goodness right here: tons of veggies and a creamy peanut butter dressing with a hint of ginger is absolutely TO DIE FOR. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

  • Quinoa: as you almost certainly know by now, the foundation of this salad is produced with healthy, hearty quinoa. One particular of my fav grains for salads!
  • Veggies: this salad is SO colorful and loaded with shredded cabbage, purple bell pepper, pink onion, shredded carrots, cilantro & eco-friendly onions.
  • Nuts: I like to incorporate additional crunch with cashew halves or peanuts (specifically honey-roasted).
  • For the dressing: that creamy peanut dressing is produced with all organic peanut butter, refreshing ginger, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil & olive oil.

In the conclusion, the substances all meld with each other completely and in some way the salad just operates fantastically — moreover it’s filling also! If you want to make this a full meal or you’re craving far more, I suggest including edamame or chickpeas.

Oh and like fairly much all the things else on this site, I enjoy it from the base of my coronary heart. Duh.

bowl of thai quinoa salad with peanut dressing over the top and green onions and cilantro with limes in the background

Customize this Thai quinoa salad

Have pleasurable customizing this salad with your fav ingredients or ones you have on hand!

  • Select your veggies: you can genuinely use any veggies you have lurking in your fridge. Chopped broccoli or shredded brussels sprouts would be fantastic in in this article.
  • Continue to keep it vegan: just use agave or pure maple syrup instead of the honey in your dressing.
  • Try out a new grain: I consider this salad would be charming with couscous, orzo, farro, or rice noodles!
  • Go grain cost-free: you could also swap the quinoa for kale, or double up the veggies to make it a hearty, grain free salad.

On the lookout to include a improve of protein?

This Thai quinoa salad is the great base for your fav meat or plant-centered proteins. Here’s what I advise:

bowl of thai quinoa salad on a linen with cashews

The greatest Thai quinoa salad in 4 simple measures

  1. Cook the quinoa. Start off by cooking your quinoa until eventually it’s good and fluffy. Set it apart to neat although you make the dressing.
  2. Make the dressing. Warmth the peanut butter and honey in the microwave so that you can effortlessly mix them, then whisk in the relaxation of the dressing substances until finally it’s awesome and smooth.
  3. Costume the quinoa. Toss a small little bit of the dressing with your cooled quinoa so that it began to take up the flavors properly. Then fold in all of your veggies and toss with the relaxation of the dressing.
  4. Garnish & serve. Top rated the salad with cashews and excess environmentally friendly onions, then provide with a squeeze of lime juice and love!

two bowls of thai quinoa salad

How to cook the great fluffy quinoa

Get all of my best tips and tips for cooking perfectly fluffy quinoa here!

Storing strategies

Hold this vegan Thai quinoa salad in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3-4 times. This salad can quickly be built the day in advance of, way too, and will be delicious served the next day!

a bowl of thai quinoa salad garnished with green onions and cilantro and a lime wedge

So yes, my husband and I met though I was on family vacation. A week afterwards, he asked me to send him the daily life-modifying cookies, and now just about 5 a long time later on, we’re married. Adorable story, huh?

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