Celery Free Pomegranate & Mango Quinoa Salad with Mint
Bright, jewel-toned, and bursting with tropical sweetness, this quinoa salad is the kind of dish that makes people stop and ask what's in it. Juicy mango and ruby pomegranate arils sit alongside fluffy quinoa, torn fresh mint, and crunchy pumpkin seeds — a combination that hits every texture and flavor note you want in a satisfying bowl. The dressing is a zippy lime vinaigrette warmed up with turmeric and ginger, and it ties everything together beautifully without relying on any celery or celery-derived ingredients. That matters more than it sounds, since celery seed, celery salt, and celery extract have a way of sneaking into store-bought dressings and spice blends. Here, every component is straightforward and easy to verify, so you can toss this together with total confidence. The trick to getting the best texture is letting the quinoa cool fully before dressing it — that step keeps the grains light and separate rather than clumping. Whether you're serving it as a vibrant side or a light main, this salad is genuinely hard to stop eating.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the salad
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
- 2 cups water
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 large ripe mango, peeled and diced (about 1 ½ cups)
- 1 cup pomegranate arils
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves, roughly torn
- 3 scallions (green tops only), thinly sliced
- ¼ cup raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 1 tsp raw honey
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- 1
Combine the rinsed quinoa, water, and 1/4 tsp salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the quinoa has absorbed all the water and the germ rings are visible, about 13–15 minutes.
- 2
Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the quinoa steam, covered, for 5 minutes. Uncover, fluff with a fork, and spread onto a large plate or sheet pan to cool for at least 10 minutes until no longer steaming.
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