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Cooked tricolor quinoa with roasted sweet potato cubes, chopped pecans, and fresh thyme leaves in a white bowl with a fork.
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5 from 6 votes

Warm Quinoa Salad

Warm Quinoa Salad with roasted sweet potatoes, pecans, and fresh herbs. Easy, vegan, and nutritious. A healthy side dish, or make it ahead for lunch or dinner. Oil-free option.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: Vegan
Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 5 people
Calories: 546kcal
Author: Nisha Melvani

Ingredients

  • 2 ¼ pounds sweet potato (about 2 medium-large), cut into ½-inch cubes
  • 1 large shallot diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried
  • 1 tablespoon chopped rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Drizzle of olive oil
  • 2 cups dry quinoa
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • ½ cup roughly chopped pecans
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar or to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
  • Cook the quinoa in the vegetable broth according to the directions on the packet. Fluff with a fork and set aside to cool.
  • Season sweet potatoes: Combine the sweet potatoes, shallot, garlic, thyme, rosemary, cinnamon, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add a drizzle of olive oil and toss until evenly coated.
  • Bake: Transfer to a large rimmed nonstick baking sheet in a single layer and roast for about 10 minutes. Add the pecans, toss, and cook for another 10 minutes, or until just fork tender.
  • Combine the sweet potato, quinoa, and balsamic vinegar in a large bowl. Serve warm or chilled.

Video

Notes

  • To substitute the fresh herbs with dried, use 1 teaspoon dried herbs for every 1 tablespoon fresh.
  • Cut the sweet potato into ½-inch pieces and spread them in a single layer so they cook quickly, and brown evenly. You may need to use two baking sheets.
  • For oil-free: Toss the sweet potatoes in balsamic vinegar instead of olive oil 
  • Storage: Refrigerate any leftover Warm Quinoa Salad in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Enjoy warm or chilled.

Nutrition

Calories: 546kcal | Carbohydrates: 92g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Sodium: 118mg | Potassium: 1155mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 29053IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 118mg | Iron: 5mg