Pescatarian Quinoa Avocado Salad with Turmeric Lemon Dressing
This vibrant grain salad is the kind of bowl that looks like it took serious effort but comes together with surprisingly little fuss. Fluffy quinoa forms the base, loaded up with creamy avocado, juicy cherry tomatoes, cool cucumber, and a double hit of fresh herbs that makes every bite feel alive. The real star is the turmeric lemon dressing — bright, earthy, and just garlicky enough — which ties the whole thing together in a way that feels far more exciting than your average weekday salad. Crunchy dry-roasted pumpkin seeds folded in at the end add a satisfying texture contrast that keeps you going back for another forkful. Every ingredient here is naturally plant-forward and wholesome, making it an effortless fit for anyone eating seafood but skipping meat — no substitutions or workarounds needed. It's the kind of recipe that works equally well as a light lunch, a meal-prep staple, or a crowd-pleasing side at a dinner party. Make it once and it'll earn a permanent spot in your rotation.
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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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