Yummy Synergy: 8 BEST Side Dishes to Serve with Quinoa Salad

Quinoa salad is a dish that is made from quinoa, which is a seed.

Quinoa offers plenty of protein, fiber, minerals, and vitamins.

It is gluten-free and therefore has become an increasingly popular food in recent years.

The flavor of quinoa salad can differ depending on the recipe it’s made with, but generally, it offers a slightly nutty flavor and chewy texture.

Many people love the taste of quinoa salad, but just as many can’t stand it.

Generally, it is recommended that you use ingredients that complement the flavor of the quinoa, such as garlic or lemon juice.

However, many recipes for quinoa salad call for spices and herbs, so if you don’t like cilantro, for example, you might not like any quinoa salad recipe.

When you serve quinoa salad, it is best to serve it with acidity to cut through the flavor of the quinoa.

This can be anything from lime juice or lemon slices to balsamic vinegar.

In this article, we will show you eight great side dishes that will go well with quinoa salad.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Quinoa Salad?

Quinoa salad is a healthy and delectable meal that you can serve as an appetizer or as part of any meal of the day.

However, this healthy meal may not be as tasty if served without some enticing side dishes.

Here are a few reasons why you might consider serving side dishes with your quinoa salad:

First and foremost, quinoa salad is delicious, but it is even more delectable when served with side dishes.

For instance, you could serve your quinoa salad with fresh and crispy vegetables such as carrots, celery, and red onion.

Served on the side of the main dish as a garnish or as an accompaniment, these vegetables will make the meal taste even more delicious.

Second, side dishes for quinoa salad will make your meal look appetizing.

Think about it: what would you prefer to eat, a plain bowl of unflavored white rice without any side dishes or a beautifully presented dish with colorful sliced vegetables? Eating that beautiful vegetable platter would be so much more satisfying than eating the otherwise plain rice.

Side dishes also make your meal look aesthetically pleasing.

Third, side dishes for quinoa salad are essential if you want to maintain the nutritional value of this healthy dish.

You can do so by making sure that your side dishes match the ingredients used in your quinoa salad recipe.

Fourth, serving side dishes for quinoa salad will make the dish more filling.

To provide some substance to your meal, serve it with a fruit or vegetable dish.

You can add these to the side of your main dish, or you can serve them in a separate bowl.

So, to make your quinoa salad even more delectable, consider serving it with side dishes or fruits and vegetables.

What to Serve with Quinoa Salad? 8 BEST Side Dishes

Here are a few side dishes that you could serve with your quinoa salad:

1 – Cabbage and Carrot Slaw

This cabbage and carrot slaw is a pretty great side dish that goes with quinoa salad.

The simple yet bold flavor of the ingredients gives your meal a satisfying crunch.

The veggies’ bright color also looks stunning served on top of your quinoa salad.

This slaw recipe is easy to make, and it only takes a few minutes of prep time.

Then you can let the veggies marinate for a while before serving them to your dish.

When you’ve finished making the slaw, enjoy it on its own as a salad or as a side dish with some grilled chicken.

2 – Cilantro Lime Grilled Chicken

Who doesn’t love chicken? And when it pops with flavor, who wouldn’t say yes to some delicious quinoa salad served with this grilled-to-perfection chicken.

This chicken recipe is made extra special by adding lime juice and cilantro, which give it an amazing flavor that everyone will love.

This chicken recipe is quick and easy to make, and you can cook it on almost any outdoor grill or stovetop.

This meal is healthy and tasty, so enjoy it as part of your big meal.

3 – Corn Pancakes with Cilantro Lime Sauce

These corn pancakes are a great side dish that goes well with quinoa salad because they’re crispy and sweet.

The sauce slathered on top is a refreshingly delicious mix of cilantro and lime juice – something you should have with your meal.

The pancakes are also great by themselves, so if you don’t want to eat them with the quinoa salad, enjoy them as a snack or as a side dish to your meal.

This recipe for corn pancakes is easy to prepare, so have it as part of your big meal.

4 – Spicy Roasted Cauliflower with Curry Dressing

Crispy roasted cauliflower florets are a great vegetable dish that complements any quinoa salad.

To make the roasted cauliflower even more enticing, you can cook it with curry seasoning that makes it spicy and delicious.

This recipe for roasted cauliflower is also healthy because it’s only cooked in the oven, so there are no added fats or oils.

Make sure to have this as a side dish for your meal.

5 – Fried or Baked Tofu Pieces

If you’re a fan of tofu, then this recipe is for you.

These baked or fried tofu pieces can be enjoyed alone, but when paired with your quinoa salad, it tastes even better.

This recipe also includes Sriracha which adds a kick to the bland flavor of tofu, so definitely try these pieces with your meal just for that reason.

The recipe’s directions are clear-cut, so you should have no problems making this tofu dish.

It only takes a few minutes to prepare, so make sure you include it as part of your big meal.

6 – Apples with Cinnamon and Nutmeg

Both apples and quinoa salad are healthy dishes, so they pair well together.

Apples are sweet and tangy, while your quinoa salad is spicy-hot with no additional sugars added.

Apples go well with cinnamon, which adds a special touch of flavor to the fruit.

As for nutmeg, it’s basically like cinnamon but spicier.

So the combination of cinnamon and nutmeg is delicious, especially when they’re cooked with apples.

7 – Classic Gazpacho

Gazpacho is the perfect side dish for quinoa salad because it’s tangy and so so good.

This classic recipe for gazpacho is made with tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions, garlic, and olive oil – all the ingredients that make this dish flavorful.

Gazpacho is also cold, which makes it a cool contrast to your spicy quinoa salad.

This recipe takes time because you need to let the soup chill in the refrigerator for a couple of hours, but it’s easy to make.

So if you have time on your hands, then this is something that you can plan to have as part of your big meal.

8 – Marinated Grilled Zucchini

Grilled zucchini is great to have as part of your summertime meal just because it’s so delicious.

Grilling the vegetable gives it a distinct smoky flavor that goes well with quinoa salad.

This recipe for grilled zucchini is very easy to prepare, so if you want to get a head start on your big meal, then set aside some time to prepare this grilled zucchini dish.

This recipe also includes herbs and oil for added flavor, so you’re getting the best of everything in this side dish.

You can add the grilled zucchini to your quinoa salad or enjoy it by itself.

They taste best when freshly prepared, so make sure you plan to have them on the day they’re cooked.

Conclusion

Quinoa is rich in protein which is great for those who are trying to lose weight.

The “super grain” is also high in fiber, so it fills you up quickly.

This makes it a healthy alternative to rice or pasta.

Quinoa salad is also delicious on its own, but if you want something more with your side dish, try adding the side dishes mentioned above.

They’re healthy and easy to make.

About The Author

Sharing is caring!