Roasted Carrot & Cauliflower Warm Quinoa Salad

This warming dish is a delicious salad option for the cold winter months. It not only contains nutritious cruciferous vegetables, but it’s also packed with protein from quinoa and an herb well-known for its anti-inflammatory actions – turmeric!


Salad ingredients:

3-4 carrots, cut into 2-inch segments

2 cups small to medium cauliflower florets

1 tbsp. avocado or olive oil

½ tsp. cumin

½ tsp. ground turmeric

¼ tsp. garlic powder

¼ tsp. cayenne pepper

Salt and pepper to taste

¾ cup quinoa

1 2/3 cups water

1/3 cup green onion, diced

1/3 cup cilantro

1/3 cup parsley

1/3 cup pitted Medjool dates, chopped (or dried cherries)

1/3 cup roasted and salted pistachios (or roasted almonds)


Dressing ingredients:

3 tbsp. tahini

½ lemon, juiced

1-2 tsp. grated ginger

½ tsp. ground turmeric

¼ tsp. garlic powder

¼ tsp. salt

Ground black pepper to taste

1-2 tbsp. warm water to thin the dressing

Optional sweetener: 1 Tbsp. maple syrup


Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

2. Line a large baking pan with parchment paper and add carrots and cauliflower. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with cumin, turmeric, garlic powder, cayenne and salt and pepper. Toss well to combine, coating the veggies with the oil and spices. Roast for 25-30 minutes or until carrots and cauliflower are tender and golden.

3. While the veggies are roasting, add quinoa and water to a medium pot and bring them to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and fluff quinoa with a fork, then replace the lid and allow quinoa to steam for another 5-10 minutes.

4. Once the quinoa is done cooking, add to a large bowl, then add in the roasted carrots and cauliflower, green onion, cilantro, parsley, chopped dates, and pistachios.

5. Mix all the dressing ingredients in a medium bowl and add more salt and pepper if necessary.

6. Pour dressing over the salad and enjoy!

 

**Boost the protein content even further by adding 1.5-2 cups of one of these options:



  • Chickpeas or any beans you enjoy

  • Chopped tofu or tempeh

  • Green peas

  • Chicken

  • Salmon


Recipe adapted from https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/cauliflower-quinoa-salad/