Legume Free Pomegranate & Mango Quinoa Salad with Mint
Bright, jewel-toned, and bursting with contrasting textures, this quinoa salad is the kind of dish that looks like you spent hours on it but comes together with minimal effort. Juicy mango and ruby pomegranate arils bring natural sweetness, while torn fresh mint and sliced scallion greens keep every bite feeling light and alive. The pumpkin seeds add a satisfying crunch without leaning on any legumes, making this a genuinely easy win for anyone navigating bean- and lentil-free eating. A golden dressing of lime juice, olive oil, honey, turmeric, and ginger ties everything together with a warm, citrusy kick that's anything but boring. Quinoa does the heavy lifting here as a complete protein and hearty base, so the salad is filling enough to stand on its own as a main or shine as a vibrant side. The trick to getting the texture just right is spreading the cooked quinoa out to cool before tossing — it keeps the grains fluffy and prevents the whole bowl from going soggy. Make it ahead, keep the dressing separate until you're ready to serve, and you've got a stunning, crowd-pleasing dish that travels beautifully.
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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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