• home
  • recipes
  • about
  • contact

Green Quinoa Salad with Basil Dressing

A super green quinoa salad full of powerhouse super-foods like kale, scallions, quinoa and dressed in a simple, vegan creamy basil dressing.
August 21, 2016

Vegan, gluten-free green quinoa salad.

Green Quinoa Salad with Basil Dressing | A super green quinoa salad full of powerhouse super-foods like kale, scallions, quinoa and dressed in a simple, vegan creamy basil dressing.

I love growing older.

It’s an honor, and a privilege.

Last week I turned 33.

Last week I had a crazy stomach flu for three days.

I’ll spare you the details, but my birthday was a blur spent on the couch in and out of consciousness craving ice cream and binge-watching Bravo. When all else fails, ice cream and RHONY cures all – we know this.

I definitely wasn’t craving solid food, especially greens, but after my birthday redo/party this weekend all I want to eat right now is pure veg. This green quinoa salad is my most popular salad recipe from the archives. It was originally posted in 2014, but after The Kitchn linked to it this summer, I figured I should update the old photos and the recipe. Which I did, but just ever so slightly.

A simple green quinoa salad. Which is basically massaged kale {don’t skip this massaging step!} and cooked quinoa with some aromatics. And dressed in a vegan, light and creamy basil dressing that’s powered by Silk. Thanks for supporting the brands that make it possible to bring you free, quality content each week. For updates, discounts, offers and more sign-up for Silk’s newsletter here.

Green Quinoa Salad with Basil Dressing | A super green quinoa salad full of powerhouse super-foods like kale, scallions, quinoa and dressed in a simple, vegan creamy basil dressing.

Green Quinoa Salad with Basil Dressing | A super green quinoa salad full of powerhouse super-foods like kale, scallions, quinoa and dressed in a simple, vegan creamy basil dressing.

Green Quinoa Salad with Basil Dressing | A super green quinoa salad full of powerhouse super-foods like kale, scallions, quinoa and dressed in a simple, vegan creamy basil dressing.

Green Quinoa Salad with Basil Dressing
Author: Sherrie Castellano | With Food + Love
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 5 mins
Total time: 10 mins
Serves: 2 – 4 portions
This recipe was originally published in April 2014, and the recipe has been updated and improved slightly. I used cashew milk, but I have also used almond milk. You can use any unsweetened, plant-based milk you prefer. You could also use any grain you have on hand in place of the quinoa {like sorghum, rice, etc.}.
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons unsweetened plant-based milk {see notes}
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 6 cups kale, ribs removed + finely chopped
  • 1 cup cooked quinoa
  • 1/2 cup scallions, diced
Instructions
  1. In a small blender, combine together the basil, olive oil, almond milk, apple cider vinegar,
  2. salt and pepper, and blend until smooth.
  3. Pour the dressing over the kale in a large bowl. With your hands mix together, gently
  4. massaging the greens for 3 minutes. This massaging part is key.
  5. Then toss in the quinoa and scallions. Mix and season once more with more salt if need.
3.5.3217

This post is sponsored by Silk; all opinions are my own.

Comments | 18 comments

« PINEAPPLE SHRUB WITH SAGE AND HONEY
BASIL FIG VODKA SMASH WITH HONEY »

RELATED POSTS:

shaved fennel slaw on top of a veggie burger
SHAVED FENNEL SLAW WITH RED WINE VINAIGRETTE
kale potato salad with grainy mustard dressing in a bowl
KALE POTATO SALAD WITH GRAINY MUSTARD DRESSING
broccoli cauliflower salad on a plate
SHAVED BROCCOLI CAULIFLOWER SALAD WITH GOLDEN DRESSING

Comments

  1. Emma says

    April 22, 2014 at 4:48 PM

    This looks so delicious! So many of my favourite things all in one bowl.

  2. Grace @ FoodFitnessFreshAir says

    April 23, 2014 at 9:33 AM

    Triple green power – my kind of salad. Love this. I’m envisioning some spring watercress in there too!

  3. Abby says

    April 26, 2014 at 11:35 AM

    This sounds delicious. It is on the top if my new salads to make list!

  4. Grace says

    July 8, 2014 at 12:35 PM

    I made this for a dinner party last night. It was delicious! So filling. Thank you for sharing.

  5. Sarah says

    July 14, 2014 at 8:15 PM

    This was awesome, thanks for sharing! I made 2 cups of quinoa and figured I would do something with the leftovers but loved this so much that right after dinner I made another batch for leftovers.

  6. Amy says

    August 1, 2014 at 8:40 AM

    I’m so glad to have discovered your blog. One of the best food blogs I’ve seen in a while! Your recipes are simple, healthy and sophisticated, and your photography is so great!

  7. Sherrie says

    August 3, 2014 at 3:10 PM

    This is, all-around the best compliment! Thanks so much for your kind words – you made my weekend.

  8. Lynn | The Road to Honey says

    January 6, 2015 at 8:32 AM

    What a gorgeous salad.

  9. K says

    November 15, 2015 at 2:04 PM

    Thanks so much for the recipe! I’ve made this many times, sometimes substituting different grains or greens depending on what I have on hand. It’s always great.

  10. Liz @ Floating Kitchen says

    August 22, 2016 at 8:53 AM

    So sorry to hear you were sick over your Birthday. Sounds like you did some good self care though – eating ice cream and binge watching Bravo is the perfect thing to do when sick. This salad is such a beauty. So much green goodness up in that bowl!

  11. Libby says

    August 22, 2016 at 10:09 AM

    Happy Birthday!

    This is one of the most delicious salads I’ve ever, ever seen. :D

  12. Abby @ Heart of a Baker says

    August 22, 2016 at 10:26 AM

    I totally agree, getting older is kind of the best and RHONY solves ALL ails :) I believe I have everything for this salad at home, so this is a perfect lunch for the week!

  13. Em says

    August 24, 2016 at 3:43 PM

    Still really need to be doing more with cashew milk. This sounds phenom. And hi i’m SOOOO glad you’re over the stomach flu. The strain that’s going around these parts is no joke.

  14. Carol says

    September 3, 2016 at 3:38 PM

    This above recipe is not the Super Green Quinoa Salad that you have previously had. Do you still have that recipe?

  15. Sherrie says

    December 12, 2016 at 1:39 PM

    Hi Carol – the recipe is the same, except the older recipe didn’t blend the dressing. I think this version is greatly improved. If you want to skip the blending, and add some crushing nuts, it’s relatively the same!

  16. Kim says

    January 11, 2017 at 8:57 AM

    Made this new version last night and added the pistachios. Although the dressing is very delicious, I don’t think it’s as tasty as the original. Totally subjective though!

  17. Jewel says

    August 26, 2017 at 8:11 PM

    I just made this and tossed in some toasted pistachios. Superb!

  18. Sherrie says

    September 13, 2017 at 8:36 PM

    Yay!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *




YOU'VE JOINED


  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright © 2023