Peanut Free Pesto-Walnut Quinoa Salad with Mango

Total time45 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time15 min

4.9

(16)

Peanut Free Pesto-Walnut Quinoa Salad with Mango

This vibrant grain salad is a full-on flavor party — herby walnut pesto-coated quinoa tossed with juicy mango, sweet cherry tomatoes, peppery arugula, and a bright hit of lemon. The homemade basil pesto leans on raw walnuts instead of pine nuts, so you get that rich, nutty depth without any peanut involvement whatsoever. Since every component is made from scratch, there's no guesswork about what's hiding in a store-bought sauce or pre-seasoned grain packet. The turmeric adds a gorgeous golden hue and a subtle warmth that plays beautifully against the sweet mango and tangy lemon dressing. Torn fresh mint scattered over the top right before serving takes the whole thing somewhere unexpectedly refreshing. It works equally well as a light lunch, a make-ahead meal prep option, or a showstopping side at your next gathering.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the quinoa

1 cup quinoa, rinsed
2 cups water
¼ tsp salt

For the pesto

2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
½ cup raw walnuts
1 clove garlic
3 tbsp lemon juice (from about 1 lemon)
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper

For the salad

1 large ripe mango, peeled and diced (about 1 ½ cups)
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
2 cups baby arugula
¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
¼ tsp turmeric
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
salt and pepper, to taste

For serving

2 tbsp fresh mint leaves, torn (optional)

Instructions

1
Combine the rinsed quinoa, water, and 1/4 tsp salt in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the water is fully absorbed and the quinoa tails have unfurled, about 12–14 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork and spread onto a large plate or sheet pan to cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes.
2
While the quinoa cools, make the pesto: combine the basil, raw walnuts, garlic, lemon juice, 1/4 tsp salt, and black pepper in a food processor. Pulse 8–10 times until coarsely chopped. With the machine running, drizzle in the 1/4 cup olive oil and process until the pesto is mostly smooth with a little texture remaining, scraping down the sides once.

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