Tropical Quinoa Salad with Tamarind Dressing

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

A vibrant salad blending quinoa, mango, and tamarind for a sweet-tangy twist, perfect for a tropical-inspired meal. This tropical fusion-inspired salads (vegetarian) ready in about 30 minutes blends quinoa, diced cherry tomatoes, finely chopped red onion into a versatile sauce that lifts everything from grain bowls and roasted vegetables to grilled proteins — a small-batch staple worth keeping in the fridge. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so a small batch covers several meals across the week without taking over the fridge. 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
• 1/2 cup, diced cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 cup, finely chopped red onion
• 1/4 cup, chopped cilantro
• 2 tbsp tamarind paste
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Bring 1 cup quinoa to a boil with 2 cups water in a pot. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and let cool.
2. Step 2: In a bowl, combine diced cherry tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro. Add cooked quinoa and toss to mix.
3. Step 3: In a small jar, whisk together tamarind paste, lime juice, olive oil, honey, salt, and black pepper until emulsified. Pour dressing over the quinoa mixture and toss until evenly coated. Chill for 30 minutes before serving.