Fall Harvest Quinoa Salad (Vegan!)

User Reviews

5.0

9 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    20 mins

  • Cook Time

    20 mins

  • Total Time

    1 hr

  • Servings

    8 (1-cup servings)

  • Calories

    211 kcal

  • Course

    Side Dish, Salad

  • Cuisine

    Vegan, gluten-free

Fall Harvest Quinoa Salad (Vegan!)

Autumn in a bowl! This healthy salad combines roasted butternut squash, fresh kale, tender nuts, and dried cranberries. Then it's tossed in the most delicious rosemary maple balsamic dressing!

I Made This!

Be the first!

Save this

Be the first!

Ingredients

Servings
  • 4 cups butternut squash, cubed*
  • 1 cup white quinoa
  • 3 cups Lacinato kale (about 1/2 bunch)
  • 3-4 green onions
  • 1/2 cup pecans or walnuts
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries**

For the maple-balsamic dressing:

  • 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 3 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
  • 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder (or 1-2 cloves minced)
  • 1 tsp. fresh rosemary, finely chopped
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
Add to Shopping List

Instructions

  1. Roast squash: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking pan with parchment paper and place squash cubes spread out in a single layer. (Add salt & pepper if desired.) Place in oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, stirring halfway through.
  2. Cook quinoa: Add 1 cup quinoa (rinsed and drained) to a small saucepan with 1.5 cups water or vegetable broth. Bring to a light boil over medium-high heat. Then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until fluffy.
  3. Make dressing: In a small bowl, combine all dressing ingredients and whisk to combine. Set aside.
  4. Prepare kale: Thinly chop kale, large stems removed. Place in a large mixing bowl and gently massage to tenderize.
  5. Prepare salad: Slice green onions and roughly chop pecans (or walnuts). Add to bowl. Then add cranberries, cooked quinoa, and roasted squash.
  6. Dress & serve: Pour dressing over top and gently toss to combine. Garnish with more cranberries or nuts if desired. Serve immediately or refrigerate for later. (It's great served warm, room temperature, or chilled.)

Notes

  • Yield: Recipe makes about 8 cups salad.
  • *Butternut squash: I find this is roughly a 3 lb. squash, or 1 lb. pre-cubed.
  • a 3 lb. squash, or 1 lb. pre-cubed.
  • **Dried cranberries: These often contain added sugar and oil, so be sure to find unsweetened and oil-free if needed.
  • Inspired by Heartbeet Kitchen.
  • Recipe originally published October 2020. Updated October 2022.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 211kcal (11%) Carbohydrates 37g (12%) Protein 5g (10%) Fat 6g (9%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 3g Potassium 469mg (13%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 14g (28%) Vitamin A 8281IU (166%) Vitamin C 23mg (26%) Calcium 84mg (8%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8(1-cup servings)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 211 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 211kcal 11%
Carbohydrates 37g 12%
Protein 5g 10%
Fat 6g 9%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 3g 15%
Potassium 469mg 10%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 14g 28%
Vitamin A 8281IU 166%
Vitamin C 23mg 26%
Calcium 84mg 8%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Genuine Reviews

User Reviews

Overall Rating

5.0

9 reviews
Excellent

Write a Review

Drag & drop files here or click to upload
Other Recipes

You'll Also Love

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad with Arugula, Avocado

Mediterranean, Vegan, gluten-free
5.0 (24 reviews)

Fresh Thai Quinoa Salad with Peanut Sauce

Thai, Vegan, gluten-free
4.9 (27 reviews)

Mexican Quinoa Salad with Cumin-Lime Dressing

Vegan, Mexican-American Fusion, gluten-free
4.9 (27 reviews)

Quinoa Avocado Spinach Power Salad

Vegan, gluten-free
4.8 (75 reviews)

Quinoa Vegetable Salad with Lemon-Basil Dressing

Vegan, gluten-free
5.0 (12 reviews)

Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Dill Dressing

Vegan, gluten-free
5.0 (12 reviews)

Lentil Quinoa Salad (Protein-Rich!)

Vegan, gluten-free
4.9 (24 reviews)

Crispy Quinoa Sweet Potato Fritters

Vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free
4.9 (528 reviews)

Healthy Broccoli Quinoa Casserole

Vegan, gluten-free
4.8 (12 reviews)

Quinoa with Roasted Rainbow Vegetables

Vegan, gluten-free
5.0 (6 reviews)

Quinoa Tabbouleh (Easy!)

Vegan, gluten-free, Lebanese-Inspired
5.0 (15 reviews)

Asian Toasted Quinoa with Mushrooms

Asian, Vegan, gluten-free
5.0 (9 reviews)

Minty Watermelon Cucumber Salad (Vegan)

Mediterranean, Greek, Vegan
5.0 (12 reviews)

Creamy Vegan Cucumber Salad (German-Inspired)

German-Inspired, Vegan
5.0 (30 reviews)