Lemon Quinoa Salad with Pistachios & Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Name: Lemon Quinoa Salad with Pistachios & Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 3 Cups
Ingredients: 1 cup quinoa; 2 cups water; 1 1/2 ounces sun-dried tomatoes (not packed in oil, sliced (about 1/2 cup)); 1/4 cup shelled & chopped pistachios; 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley; 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1/2 teaspoon agave nectar (or honey); 1/8 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon ground pepper

Oct 14, 2013 by Dara 28 Comments

Whip up this vibrant quinoa salad in minutes. Pistachios and sun-dried tomatoes add crunch and color, and the salad is gluten-free and vegan.

This is a day to celebrate! Liz of The Lemon Bowl is having a baby boy, and a whole group of bloggers are honoring her and her little one with a virtual baby shower, hosted by Kristen of Dine & Dish, Rachel of Rachel Cooks and Sheila of Eat2Gather. To make the shower truly about Liz, we all made recipes with lemon, true to the name of Liz’s blog.

If you are already a fan of Liz’s blog, you’ll know that she went through an amazing weight loss transformation and focuses on healthy, creative recipes that use seasonal ingredients. Right up my alley!

Liz and I have yet to meet in person, but through our online interactions (as bloggers tend to enjoy), I feel as though I know her. She is warm, funny and clearly primed to become the mother to two little boys (her little guy, Asher, is going to be a great big brother).

Congratulations, Liz! Enjoy your virtual shower. I just wish we could do it in person.

This easy salad features one of my favorite grains, quinoa. It is tossed with a handful of shelled pistachios, sun-dried tomatoes and an easy lemon vinaigrette. Healthy and full of flavor, it’s perfect for a baby shower or an easy side dish for your next meal.

Be sure to scroll down to see the list of the amazing dishes that other friends are bringing to the shower.

The recipe:

In a medium saucepan, combine the quinoa and water. (This is the quinoa that I use.)

Bring the water to a boil, reduce the heat to low and cover. Cook until all of the water is absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Fluff the quinoa with a fork.

Transfer the cooked quinoa to a large baking sheet and spread it out evenly. Let it cool to room temperature.

To the quinoa, add the sun-dried tomatoes, pistachios and parsley. Stir to combine.

In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper.

Pour the dressing over the quinoa salad and stir to combine. Serve or refrigerate, covered, until ready to serve.

Scroll to the bottom for the complete recipe.

Here is what others are bringing to the shower:

Appetizers

Whipped Feta Spread with Lemon, Garlic & Rosemary by Miss in the Kitchen
Cauliflower Mashed “Potatoes” in a Lemon Cup with Smoked Paprika by Climbing Grier Mountain
Lemon Basil Bruschetta by Dine & Dish
Chipotle Sweet Potato Fries w/ Lemon Basil Aioli by What’s Gaby Cooking
Lemon Garlic Herb Marinated Olives by Sarah’s Cucina Bella
Kalamata Olive and Feta Dip with Baked Lemon Pepper Pita Chips by In Aggie’s Kitchen
Creamy Asparagus Guacamole by The Healthy Apple

Beverages

Sparkling Honey Rosemary Lemonade by Nutmeg Nanny
Basil Hibiscus Lemonade by Fabtastic Eats
Jam Mocktails: Lemon & Pineapple by Cooking with Books
Lemon Jalapeno Spritzers by Bev Cooks
Sparkling Blackberry Lemonade by Crumbs and Chaos
Limonana (Middle Eastern Frozen Mint Lemonade) by An Edible Mosaic
Tipsy Lemonade Iced Tea by Family Fresh Cooking

Salads

Kale Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing by Thrifty Veggie Mama
Greek Salad with Garlic-Lemon Vinaigrette by Gimme Some Oven
Pear Quinoa Salad by Reluctant Entertainer
Lemon Avocado Salad Dressing by The Lean Green Bean
Lemony Spinach & Tomato Quinoa Salad by MomAdvice
Herbed Calamari Salad with Preserved Lemons by Everyday Maven

Main Dish

Italian Lemon Roast Chicken Pot by Eat2Gather
Lemon Garlic Shrimp Tostada by A Zesty Bite
Lemon Pepper Shrimp Linguine by Taste and Tell
Salmon with Lemon Herb Butter by Handle the Heat
Lemon Chicken Stew by FoodieCrush
Chicken Saltimbocca with Lemon Cream Sauce and Olive Orzo by Baker by Nature

Desserts

Honey Lemon Shortbread Cookies by Rachel Cooks
Lemon Blueberry Macarons by Chocolate & Carrots
Lemon Glazed Cookies by A Cedar Spoon
Healthier Lemon Bars by Texanerin Baking
Lemon Sugar Cookies by What Megan’s Making
Light Lemon Mousse by Country Cleaver
Lemon Sugar Cookie Sandwiches by i am baker
Mini Lemon Cheesecakes with Gingersnap Crust by The Law Student’s Wife
Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Chips by Seeded at the Table