Warm Lemon Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas {Recipe}

Inspiration comes from the most unexpected places sometimes. I was in the office break room the other day waiting for my lunch to finish heating. As I stood there, a man came in with a pouch that looked to have come from Target. He microwaved the pouch for a minute or so and then poured the contents into a bowl. They tumbled out with a puff of steam. It looked like quinoa, chickpeas, red bell pepper, and spinach. And it looked good. Since I’m not a fan of processed food, I immediately started thinking of how I could create a similar concoction with whole foods.

It wasn’t until a couple weeks later that I had time to play with the idea, but the result was a success. I made Warm Lemon Quinoa Salad (with chickpeas, red bell pepper, and spinach).

I love the versatility of this recipe. You can serve it as a fun side dish or protein-packed vegan/vegetarian entrée.

Did you know that quinoa is a great source of protein for non-meat-eaters? According to this Natural News article on quinoa:

Quinoa is perhaps one of the most perfect non-animal sources of protein on the planet. What makes quinoa (pronounce keen-wah) unique is that it is the only plant based source of complete protein. “Complete” means that it contains all 9 of the essential amino acids that are crucial to human function and health.

As I was working on this recipe, I wasn’t sure how to season the quinoa at first. When I originally saw the packaged quinoa dish at work, I could only capture the ingredients with my eyes. I only saw the major components. But, lemon turned out to be a good choice. I think it really brightens up the flavor. And, the lemon also makes this a great dish for the upcoming spring season. Potlucks, anyone?

I enjoyed this Warm Lemon Quinoa Salad with a slice of broccoli cheddar quiche with a whole wheat crust. The recipe for the quiche (and another flavor!) is queued up for another day.

Feel free to switch up the mixing to our liking. This recipe is pretty versatile.

Warm Lemon Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas {Recipe}

• Author: Diana of thechiclife.com
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 35 mins
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

This recipe makes for a great protein-packed vegan/vegetarian entrée or everyday side dish. Consider even trying it for breakfast. Top it with a fried egg! And, freshest is always best, but this dish also reheats well for easy leftover eats.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 cup cooked quinoa (cooked according to package directions – I used water, but broth would be more flavorful)
• 1 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 15 ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped small
• 1 bunch fresh spinach (or sub baby spinach, about 4–6 loose cups – it wilts down!)
• juice of 2 lemons
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/4 teaspoon, plus more to taste
• salt, to taste

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Instructions

1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add chickpeas and spread to an even layer. Cook for 3-4 minutes, until lightly browned. Stir and repeat. Move to a bowl.
2. If needed, add a little extra olive oil (about 1/2 tablespoon). Add the bell peppers and cook for about 2 minutes, until just softening.
3. Add spinach and 1 tablespoon water and cover with a lid to steam for 1 minute. Remove lid, stir and cook till wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
4. Add quinoa, chickpeas, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Taste test and season with additional garlic salt, salt, and/or pepper, as desired. Serve and enjoy!

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Notes

Serving size will depend on whether you serve this as an entrée or side dish.

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Here are some more great quinoa recipe ideas (from breakfast to dessert):

• Hot Blueberry-Honey Breakfast Quinoa {TCL Recipe}
• Recipe for Better-than-Mom’s Chicken, Broccoli, and Quinoa Casserole with Creamy Curry Sauce – Kalyn’s Kitchen
• Quinoa Chocolate Cake Recipe with Brown Sugar Streusel {Gluten Free Chocolate Zucchini Cake Recipe} – My Natural Family
• Southwest Quinoa Breakfast Bowl {TCL Recipe}
• Asian-Style Chicken Quinoa Salad – Anja’s Food 4 Thought

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Happy cooking!