Octonary Spice-Infused Chickpea and Quinoa Salad
A nutrient-packed salad combining quinoa and chickpeas with a robust blend of eight aromatic spices and fresh vegetables. This Mediterranean-inspired Fourth of July recipe (gluten free), ready in about 25 minutes, pairs quinoa, water, canned chickpeas for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 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, rinsed quinoa
- 2 cups water
- 1 can (15 oz), drained and rinsed canned chickpeas
- 1 medium, diced cucumber
- 1 cup, halved cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 cup, finely chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup, chopped fresh cilantro
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp, freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tsp (blend of cumin, coriander, turmeric, paprika, cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom, cloves) octonary spice blend
- 1 tsp salt
The chef’s knife we’d prep this with → Best Chef's Knives for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil. Add 1 cup rinsed quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Step 2: In a large bowl, combine the cooled quinoa with 1 can drained and rinsed chickpeas, 1 medium diced cucumber, 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion, and 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro.
- Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1 tsp octonary spice blend, and 1 tsp salt until emulsified.
- Step 4: Pour the dressing over the quinoa mixture and toss gently to combine. Adjust seasoning to taste and chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.









