No-Cook Citrus Mint Quinoa Salad

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-27 · Updated 2026-05-27

A refreshing, light salad featuring fluffy quinoa, bright citrus, and fragrant fresh mint, perfect for a quick healthy meal. This Mediterranean-inspired healthy bowl recipe (vegetarian, gluten free), ready in about 30 minutes, pairs quinoa, water, orange juice for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with rice, quinoa, or a quick salad. 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
• 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
• 1 medium, diced cucumber
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

The chef’s knife we’d prep this with → Best Chef's Knives for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup quinoa under cold water until water runs clear. Place quinoa and 2 cups water in a medium pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Cover and reduce heat to low, simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy. Remove from heat and let sit covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with fork.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup fresh orange juice, 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, and 3 tbsp olive oil until combined and emulsified.
3. Step 3: Add the cooked quinoa to the citrus dressing along with 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves, 1 medium diced cucumber, and 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper. Season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
4. Step 4: Toss all ingredients gently until evenly mixed. Chill for 10 minutes before serving to let flavors meld.