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Lentil Quinoa Salad with Spinach and Citrus

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Lentil Quinoa Salad w/ Spinach & Citrus – this nutritious salad is hearty enough to be an entree. Packed with protein, superfood greens, refreshing fruits, and healthy fats, this is one meal that will leave you feeling energized and ready to tackle the world. 

Lentil Quinoa Salad in a white bowl next to a striped dish towel and slices of orange.

 

I always tend to lean toward salads when I’m having friends over for lunchtime. They are quick to prepare since ingredients can generally be prepped ahead of time and simply tossed together when ready to eat. Not just any green salad will do, however. I like them to have some staying power. I made this the other day for a friend and it was a big hit. My Lentil Quinoa Salad with Spinach and Citrus is protein packed and filling while still being an energizing light lunch.

Lentil Quinoa Salad w/ Spinach and Citrus. Garnished with pecans.

Easy to Make

I made the lentils and quinoa separately in my new favorite kitchen appliance, the Instant Pot. The lentils took me 15 minutes and the quinoa ONE MINUTE. Yup, you read that right…one minute to cook quinoa. Okay, technically, it was 11 minutes because you have to wait 10 minutes for the pressure to release, but it’s only cooking for 1 minute. And all of that time is hands off and you don’t have to worry about the pot boiling over (why does the pot always boil over for me?!). All you have to do is add it to the Instant Pot with water and turn it on. (By the way, this amazing device can also be used as a slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, warmer and can be used to sauté. It is totally worth the money!)

Salad of spinach, orange slices, tomatoes, quinoa, lentils, & pecans in a white bowl next to a gray and white striped dish towel.

 Nutrient Dense

The vitamin C in the clementines will help your body absorb the iron in the lentils and spinach. You will get plenty of protein, folate, fiber, Vitamin K, Vitamin A, B vitamins, etc…the list goes on and on. You’ll also get a good dose of healthy fats from the avocado and pecans. This is one nutrient rich dish! And if you love the powerhouse punch of plant protein of lentils and quinoa together, check out my Baked Red Lentil Quinoa Fritters. They’re kind of like a play on falafel and they are sooo good!

I drizzled a creamy oil-free balsamic vinaigrette over this quinoa salad just before serving. It doesn’t need much dressing, though, as the salad is quite flavorful on it’s own. I just never pass up an opportunity with balsamic. I could practically drink the stuff. Yum!

Forkful of salad above a bowl of lentil quinoa spinach salad.

Lentil Quinoa Salad

I hope you love this Lentil Quinoa Salad as much as we do. If you make it, please come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback. You can also find me on social media, so snap a quick pic and tag me @veggie_inspired and #veggieinspired so I’m sure to see it. Enjoy!

5 from 1 vote
Lentil Quinoa Salad in a white bowl next to a striped dish towel and slices of orange.
Print
Lentil Quinoa Salad with Spinach and Citrus
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 
A protein packed energizing light lunch.
Course: Entree, Salad
Cuisine: dairy free, egg free, gluten free, oil free, refined sugar free, soy free, vegan
Servings: 4
Calories: 338 kcal
Author: Jenn S.
Ingredients
Salad
  • 1/2 cup dry lentils (rinsed, drained, and cooked according to package directions)
  • 1/2 cup dry quinoa (rinsed, drained, and cooked according to package directions) (I used tricolor quinoa for color)
  • 1/4 cup diced red onion
  • 2-3 clementines (segmented) (I used 2 as mine were huge and sliced the segments in half)
  • 1 avocado (diced)
  • 1/2 cup halved grape tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley
  • 1/4 cup raw pecans
  • 4 big handfuls fresh spinach
Creamy Oil-Free Balsamic Vinaigrette
Instructions
  1. Whisk all vinaigrette ingredients together and set aside.
  2. Mix all salad ingredients, except spinach, in a medium bowl.
  3. When ready to serve, add one big handful of spinach to individual bowls and top with lentil quinoa mixture. Drizzle with vinaigrette.
  4. Store spinach, lentil quinoa mixture and vinaigrette all separately if you have leftovers.
Nutrition Facts
Lentil Quinoa Salad with Spinach and Citrus
Amount Per Serving
Calories 338 Calories from Fat 117
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 20%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 7g
Sodium 151mg 6%
Potassium 754mg 22%
Total Carbohydrates 50g 17%
Dietary Fiber 13g 52%
Sugars 9g
Protein 12g 24%
Vitamin A 72%
Vitamin C 56%
Calcium 8%
Iron 26%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

*This post was originally published in Feb 2015. Photos and content updated June 2017. Original recipe remains the same.*

Other Hearty Entree Salads to Love:

Baked Red Lentil Quinoa Fritters

Quinoa Spinach Salad w/ Butternut Squash & Apple

Baked Red Lentil Quinoa Fritters

Southwest Black Bean Pasta Salad

Loaded Veggie Chopped Kale Salad

Loaded Veggie Chopped Kale Salad

Lentil Quinoa Salad w/ Spinach & Citrus - a protein packed superfood salad that makes an energizing light lunch or a filling main meal for dinner. Avocado and pecans provide a good dose of healthy fats as well. Drizzle the oil free balsamic vinaigrette over the top and you will fall in love with this easy salad.

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Lentil Quinoa Salad w/ Spinach & Citrus - a protein packed superfood salad that makes an energizing light lunch or a filling main meal for dinner. Avocado and pecans provide a good dose of healthy fats. Drizzle the oil free balsamic vinaigrette over the top and you will fall in love with this easy gluten free salad.
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Comments

  1. I always want something hearty in my salads too to give them staying power. Lentils & quinoa are the perfect answer. I seriously need an Instant Pot. I keep hoping they’ll have one of those big sales again!

    Reply

  8. The combination of spinach and citrus just goes so well together doesn’t it? This looks so healthy and would be a great choice for a light summer meal.

    Reply

    • Thank you, Brandi! It’s easy to take great photos with such colorful produce! I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply

  13. I noticed that there are cherry tomatoes in the picture but not in the ingredients list. Should there be cherry tomatoes in this recipe?

    Reply

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My name is Jenn. This is my blog where I share delicious plant based recipes for the whole family. I love to cook; I can read cookbooks like novels; and I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen by making standard American favorites healthier.

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