Citrus-Infused Quinoa Salad with Avocado

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-03-30 · Updated 2026-03-30

A vibrant, nutrient-packed salad featuring tender quinoa, bright citrus, and creamy avocado, dressed in a zesty lemon vinaigrette. This mediterranean-inspired salads (vegetarian) ready in about 35 minutes pairs quinoa, large, segmented grapefruit, diced avocado 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 220 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 large, segmented grapefruit
• 1, diced avocado
• 1/4 cup, finely chopped red onion
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp honey
• 2 tbsp, chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

1. Step 1: Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a medium pot. Add 1 cup quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and let cool slightly.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, combine cooled quinoa, 1 large segmented grapefruit, 1 diced avocado, and 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion.
3. Step 3: In a small jar, whisk together 2 tbsp olive oil, 3 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp honey, and 2 tbsp chopped parsley until emulsified. Pour dressing over salad and toss until evenly coated. Chill for 30 minutes before serving.