Bright Citrus Quinoa Salad

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-03-28 · Updated 2026-03-28

A refreshing salad featuring jewel-toned citrus segments, creamy avocado, and protein-packed quinoa, dressed in a zesty lime vinaigrette. This mediterranean-inspired salads (vegetarian) ready in about 35 minutes pairs quinoa, orange segments, grapefruit segments into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa
• 1 cup orange segments
• 1/2 cup grapefruit segments
• 1 medium avocado
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/4 cup fresh mint
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Cook 1 cup quinoa in 2 cups boiling water for 15 minutes, then drain and let cool. Dice 1 medium avocado into 1/2-inch cubes and set aside.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, combine cooled quinoa, 1 cup orange segments, 1/2 cup grapefruit segments, and 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint. Gently fold in avocado cubes.
3. Step 3: Whisk together 3 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp lime juice, 1 tbsp honey, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper. Pour dressing over the salad and toss until evenly coated. Chill for 30 minutes before serving.