Citrus-Herb Quinoa Salad with Shelled Peas

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-13 · Updated 2026-04-13

A vibrant, protein-packed salad featuring nutty quinoa, sweet peas, and a zesty lemon-dill dressing that's perfect for a light lunch or side dish. This salads (high-protein) ready in about 35 minutes pairs quinoa, water, fresh peas 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 320 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
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup fresh peas
• 1 lemon
• 3 tbsp fresh dill
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup red onion
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup quinoa under cold water until water runs clear, then combine with 2 cups water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, reduce to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy.
2. Step 2: While quinoa cooks, zest and juice 1 lemon, finely chop 1/4 cup red onion, and mince 3 tbsp fresh dill. Place in a small bowl.
3. Step 3: Once quinoa is done, fluff with a fork and let cool for 5 minutes. Add 1 cup fresh peas, the lemon zest and juice, and 3 tbsp olive oil to the quinoa, then toss gently with 1/2 tsp sea salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper until evenly coated.