Motion-Activated Quinoa Salad with Roasted Veggies
A vibrant quinoa salad packed with roasted vegetables, zesty lemon tahini dressing, and a crunch of toasted almonds. This mediterranean-inspired salads (vegan) ready in about 55 minutes pairs quinoa, head, chopped broccoli, medium, julienned carrots 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
- 1 head, chopped broccoli
- 2 medium, julienned carrots
- 1, diced red bell pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp tahini
- 1 clove, minced garlic
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup, toasted almonds
- 1 cup, halved cherry tomatoes
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss 1 head broccoli, 2 julienned carrots, and 1 diced red bell pepper with 2 tbsp olive oil. Roast for 20-25 minutes until tender.
- Step 2: In a separate bowl, rinse and drain 1 cup quinoa. Fold in roasted vegetables and 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes.
- Step 3: Whisk together 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp tahini, 1 clove minced garlic, and 1 tsp salt. Drizzle over the quinoa mixture.
- Step 4: Sprinkle with 1/4 cup toasted almonds and toss to coat. Serve immediately.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Motion-Activated Quinoa Salad with Roasted Veggies take to make?
Total time is about 55 minutes (30 min prep + 25 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Motion-Activated Quinoa Salad with Roasted Veggies?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep quinoa from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Motion-Activated Quinoa Salad with Roasted Veggies?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Motion-Activated Quinoa Salad with Roasted Veggies for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
Is Motion-Activated Quinoa Salad with Roasted Veggies vegan?
Yes — this recipe is tagged vegan based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.
What others are saying
- ★★★★☆
Nice recipe! Presentation was beautiful. Flavor was good, not great.
- ★☆☆☆☆
Didn't come together the way I expected. Flavors were flat.