This healthy vibrant Peanut Quinoa Salad drizzled with a creamy peanut sauce is perfect for your next meal prep, potluck, or picnic! Packed with protein, this salad is delicious served warm or chilled.
Disclaimer: This post was written in partnership with The Peanut Institute. Take the 30/30 Peanut Challenge with me where we incorporate 30 peanuts or two tablespoons of peanut butter into our daily diet for 30 days! Click here to enter the Peanut Basket Giveaway from The Peanut Institute.
Peanut Quinoa Salad
Let me introduce you to the easiest and most versatile salad ever. This Peanut Quinoa Salad can be customized a zillion different ways. Itcan be made ahead of time, works as a potluck dish or as a meal prep, and is healthy!
In my Homemade Peanut Butter post, I mentioned that I was taking The Peanut Institute’s 30/30 Peanut Challenge where we incorporate 30 peanuts or two tablespoons of peanut butter into our daily diet for 30 days. This peanut quinoa salad has you covered for that. You’ve got peanuts on top, you’ve got peanuts in the dressing, and you’re definitely going to hit your daily peanut quota with this!
What You’ll Need To Make This Peanut Quinoa Salad
- smooth peanut butter (see how to make your own homemade pb here)
- soy sauce
- rice vinegar
- lime juice
- olive oil
- quinoa
- carrots
- edamame beans
- spinach
- roasted peanuts
- leftover shredded chicken
Is this Peanut Quinoa Salad Healthy?
Yes! Let’s go over why peanuts are so amazing and why this peanut quinoa salad is a healthy addition to your meal plan.
- Eating peanuts regularly can reduce your chances of developing cardiovascular disease by about 30%
- A serving of peanuts (one ounce) is about 30 peanuts
- There are 7g of protein per serving of peanuts
- It costs less than 30 cents for two servings of peanuts which makes it a very low-cost source of protein!
- Peanuts are nutrient-rich and low in carbohydrates
- Peanuts are a great source of dietary fibre
- This salad is also packed with greens (low in calories but high in iron from the spinach)
- Quinoa is high in fibre and protein as well as iron and potassium
- To bulk up the salad some more, I added chicken. This is optional but it turns the salad from a side into a main meal for me and it adds even more protein to the overall salad.
How To Make This Protein Packed Peanut Quinoa Salad
In a small bowl, combine peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, and olive oil. Stir until combined and set aside.
In a small pot, bring to a boil 2 cups of water or broth before adding in the quinoa. Keeping the lid on, decrease the heat to low and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, until the quinoa has cooked through.
Once done, you have two options, combine half the peanut sauce with the quinoa and mix all the ingredients then add additional peanut sauce as needed or combine all your ingredients and then add in the peanut sauce.
To meal prep: if you prefer this warm, I would hold off adding the spinach into the main container. This way you don’t get soggy spinach when you reheat it at work or school.
If making ahead for a party: prepare the peanut sauce up to 3 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. The quinoa can also be made the night before and chill in the fridge overnight.
How to Customize or Change up this Peanut Quinoa Salad
Here are other things you can add to change up this salad
- shredded red cabbage
- red onions
- snap peas
- cucumbers
- bell peppers
- broccoli
- cilantro and basil
- chickpeas
- mangoes, if they’re in season
- grated ginger in the peanut sauce
- sriracha sauce in the peanut sauce
Peanut Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
Peanut Sauce
- 1 cup smooth peanut butter
- 5-6 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1/4 cup olive oil
Salad
- 1 cup quinoa
- 1-2 carrots, shredded or sprialized
- 1 cup edamame beans
- 5 cups spinach
- 2 cups leftover chicken
- 1/2 cup roasted peanuts
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, and olive oil. Stir until combined and set aside.
- In a small pot, bring to a boil 2 cups of water or broth before adding in the quinoa. Keeping the lid on, decrease the heat to low and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, until the quinoa has cooked through.
- Once done, you have two options, combine half the peanut sauce with the quinoa and mix all the ingredients then add additional peanut sauce as needed or combine all your ingredients and then add in the peanut sauce.
- To meal prep: if you prefer this warm, I would hold off adding the spinach into the main container. This way you don’t get soggy spinach when you reheat it at work or school.
- If making ahead for a party: prepare the peanut sauce up to 3 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. The quinoa can also be made the night before and chill in the fridge overnight.
Notes
RESOURCES AND TIPS FOR MEAL PREPPING
- How To Cook Chicken Breasts Perfectly
- What Is An Instant Pot
- Tips To Help You Meal Prep For The Week Successfully
- Tips for Meal Prepping on a Budget
- 7 Freezer Friendly Chicken Marinades
- 5 Freezer Friendly Marinades
- Meal Prep Support Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mealprepsupport/
Other places to connect with me
Instagram: @carmyshungry
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carmyycom
Email: [email protected]
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