Coconut Free Quinoa Avocado Salad with Turmeric Lemon Dressing
This vibrant grain salad is everything you want in a warm-weather bowl — creamy avocado, crisp cucumber, juicy cherry tomatoes, and fluffy quinoa all tossed together with fresh herbs and crunchy pumpkin seeds. The real star is the golden turmeric lemon dressing, which brings a bright, earthy warmth that ties every ingredient together beautifully. Because the whole recipe is built from whole foods and pantry staples, there's no need to scan labels for sneaky tropical oils or hidden additives — every component is exactly what it says it is. The technique of spreading the cooked quinoa out to cool before dressing it is a small but smart move that keeps the salad light and fluffy rather than clumped or soggy. Folding the avocado in last protects those creamy chunks so every bite has a little richness to balance the zippy citrus dressing. It works just as well as a standalone lunch as it does alongside grilled protein at dinner, and it comes together with minimal fuss and maximum flavor.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the salad
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
- 2 cups water
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 ripe avocados, pitted, peeled, and diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 english cucumber, diced
- ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup fresh mint, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup dry-roasted pumpkin seeds
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1½ lemons)
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- 1
Combine the rinsed quinoa, water, and ¼ tsp salt in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes, until the water is fully absorbed and the quinoa tails have unfurled.
- 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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