Word of the Day Salad: Quinoa & Roasted Veggie
A vibrant and nutritious salad featuring quinoa, roasted vegetables, and a lemon-tahini dressing, designed to be a daily delight for your taste buds. This mediterranean-inspired salads (vegan) ready in about 35 minutes pairs quinoa, water, florets broccoli 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 250 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
- 2 cups water
- 1 medium, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes sweet potato
- 1 cup, florets broccoli
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp tahini
- 1 tsp honey
- 1/4 cup, chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss 1 medium sweet potato, diced into 1/2-inch cubes, and 1 cup broccoli florets with 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes until tender and caramelized.
- Step 2: While vegetables roast, cook 1 cup quinoa in 2 cups water in a saucepan over medium-high heat, covered, for 15 minutes until water is absorbed. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, and let sit covered for 5 minutes.
- Step 3: Whisk together 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp tahini, and 1 tsp honey in a small bowl until smooth. Transfer cooked quinoa to a large bowl, add roasted vegetables, drizzle with dressing, and toss gently. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley before serving.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Word of the Day Salad: Quinoa & Roasted Veggie take to make?
Total time is about 35 minutes (15 min prep + 20 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 Word of the Day Salad: Quinoa & Roasted Veggie?
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 Word of the Day Salad: Quinoa & Roasted Veggie?
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 Word of the Day Salad: Quinoa & Roasted Veggie 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 Word of the Day Salad: Quinoa & Roasted Veggie 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
- ★★★★☆
Very good for a 20-minute recipe. Would bump up the spice level though.
- ★★★★☆
Really good but took about 10 minutes longer than stated.
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.