Rice Free Pomegranate & Mango Quinoa Salad with Mint
Bright, jewel-toned, and bursting with fresh flavor, this quinoa salad is the kind of dish that makes people stop and ask what's in it. Juicy mango and ruby pomegranate arils bring natural sweetness, while torn mint leaves and scallion greens keep every bite feeling light and alive. The dressing — a zippy blend of lime juice, olive oil, honey, turmeric, and ginger — ties it all together with a warm, citrusy kick that's anything but ordinary. Quinoa steps in as the perfect grain-free-adjacent base here, delivering protein and satisfying texture without a single grain of rice in sight, making it a genuinely easy swap for anyone navigating rice-free eating. Crunchy raw pumpkin seeds add a subtle nuttiness and a little extra staying power, so this salad holds its own as a full meal rather than just a side. The technique of spreading the cooked quinoa out to cool before tossing keeps the texture fluffy and prevents the dressing from getting absorbed too fast. It's colorful enough to bring to a gathering and simple enough to make on a weeknight.
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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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