This healthy chickpea quinoa salad is loaded with veggies and makes a light and delicious lunch option that can be made ahead of time for easy lunches throughout the week. Great for meal prep!
The idea for this salad actually came from one of my local health coaching clients. She and I were chatting about how much we love The Daily Kitchen and Bar, a Richmond restaurant known for its cool vibe and healthy menu options.
I like every dish that I’ve tried there, but what I really love is their massive salads (oh, and the sweet potato fries!!). Unlike some restaurants that give you a bowl of limp greens, a mushy tomato and a few shredded carrots on a plate, The Daily gives you a massive bowl of greens that loaded with tasty toppings. It’s the type of place where you can order a salad for your meal and feel completely full and satisfied.
My client mentioned that the quinoa salad was her favorite dish and I proceeded to rave about the Mediterranean salmon salad, which is my go-to. After that convo I decided to create a quinoa salad similar to the one served at The Daily so that my client would be able to make it at home whenever she wanted.
The result is this salad — a surprisingly simple, yet flavorful combo. With a base of chickpeas, quinoa and bright veggies, this salad is loaded with nutrients and very filling.
I’m not 100% sure what sort of dressing The Daily uses but I kept it simple with a little olive oil, red wine vinegar, sea salt and fresh ground pepper. The feta and fresh parsley add quite a bit of flavor so the light dressing is really all you need.
I had it for lunch several times last week served over a big bowl of spring mix for some extra volume. Perfection!
Like most quinoa salads, this is a great meal prep salad that you can prep on Sunday for lunches throughout the week! If you pack it for lunch, I’d probably just bring along extra oil and vinegar in case the quinoa soaks up all the dressing and you want to add a splash right before digging in.
This healthy quinoa chickpea salad is loaded with veggies and makes a light and delicious lunch option that can be made ahead of time for easy lunches throughout the week. Great for meal prep!
Ingredients
3 cups cooked quinoa
1 15 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 cup chopped cucumbers
1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped red or yellow bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 Tablespoon red wine or white balsamic vinegar
2–3 Tablespoons feta cheese
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a big bowl. Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed.
Serve over your favorite leafy greens and top with an extra drizzle of more oil and vinegar.
Nutrition
Serving Size:1 cup
Calories:215
Sugar:2g
Fat:9g
Carbohydrates:28g
Fiber:4g
Protein:6g
This post may include affiliate links. Thank you for your support.
Ahh yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed this salad, Hannah. 🙂 Thanks so much for trying it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it!
Wonderful find! I just had this delicious salad today at the Daily Kitchen to kick start my journey to healthier eating and was looking for calorie information and I find your great site!!
This salad looks great! I have a lot of quinoa in m fridge that I made the other day and a salad like this would be the perfect way to use it. Thanks for sharing!
Leave a Comment
Made this today and added grilled shrimp and spring mix…delicious! Thank you!
★★★★★
Ahh yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed this salad, Hannah. 🙂 Thanks so much for trying it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it!
This was really good! I doubled the olive oil and vinegar for personal taste. Thanks for the recipe!
So glad you enjoyed it, Jessica!
Your quinoa salad looks delicious, Brittany! I’m going to make it right now. Thanks so much for sharing!
★★★★★
Wonderful find! I just had this delicious salad today at the Daily Kitchen to kick start my journey to healthier eating and was looking for calorie information and I find your great site!!
Isn’t The Daily Kitchen so good? It’s one of my favorite healthy restaurants in Richmond. 🙂
Thanks!
Looks delicious going to make it today!
yummy dishes. I like thanks. thanks 🙂
What a beautiful salad – I would very gladly live on it! lovely flavors – yum!
Mary
wanted to drop in and say that salad is gorgeous and I’ll take it with that adorable napkin!
Hi Brittany,
Thanks for sharing the recipe. Looks very simple yet nourishing. I didn’t see chick peas in the ingredient list. Would a can of chickpeas work?
Thanks,
Swarna
Thanks for pointing that out Swarna. Just updated it! One 15 oz can of chickpeas works great.
Looks wonderful Brittany! Perfect for a packed lunch!
Love all the fresh flavors and textures in this salad!
I love all of those ingredients. Thank you! 🙂
This salad looks great! I have a lot of quinoa in m fridge that I made the other day and a salad like this would be the perfect way to use it. Thanks for sharing!