Once the temperature starts going above 30C and there is a heat and humidity warning, we mostly eat raw or cold foods, even for dinner. I love making a variety of salads using anything from chicken to roasted red peppers to quinoa and we never get bored.
Quinoa salads are the perfect hot weather food because it takes very little time to cook the quinoa and the salad can be prepared early in the morning when it’s still cool and enjoyed for dinner; the leftovers make for a great lunch to bring to work too.
I am always inspired when I visit other blogs and when I came across this bulgur salad, I knew I had to make it right away; I tried both bulgur and quinoa versions and we loved them. Here is my version of this fragrant, refreshing, healthy and delicious salad.
- 1 ½ cups quinoa
- 2 ¼ cup water
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ½ cup currants
- 1 cup walnuts, toasted
- 3-4 scallions, finely chopped
- ¾ cup mint leaves
Dressing:
- ¼ cup walnut oil or olive oil
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon
- Sea salt to taste
Wash the quinoa and drain, place in a medium sauce pan with water and bay leaf, season with salt and bring it to a boil, cover with a lid, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the quinoa has absorbed all the liquid, add the currants, fluff with a fork and let it cool to room temperature, discard the bay leaf.
Meanwhile prepare the dressing in a large bowl by mixing the juice and zest of a lemon, walnut oil and a little salt. Add the cooled quinoa to the bowl, mix in the walnuts, scallions and finally the chopped mint leaves.
Serve at room temperature and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Printable Recipe
Meanwhile prepare the dressing in a large bowl by mixing the juice and zest of a lemon, walnut oil and a little salt. Add the cooled quinoa to the bowl, mix in the walnuts, scallions and finally the chopped mint leaves.
Serve at room temperature and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Printable Recipe
I love cold quinoa. One of my summer favorites. This is a must make!
Megi, this salad looks so good, and, as you say, perfect for the hot weather. I never tried bulgur or quinoa (I think it’s time to do that
), but even with couscous sounds good too!
Perfect summer salad!
Merhaba Megi, eve gider gitmez hemen deneyeceğim kadar güzel bir salata olmuş. Bu tarifi çok sevdim, ellerine sağlık. Sevgiler.
I too switch to salads for the summer months and this looks really yummy. I usually just make tabouleh with cold quinoa but I like this flavor combo of walnuts, currents and mint and will definitely try it out!
Megi, this salad looks delicious! I recently made a similar salad and used pecans instead. Love the combination of quinoa and nuts. I didn’t add currants, but love the idea. Will need to add that next time:). You have so many lovely salad recipes….I can see why you don’t get bored:) Thanks for sharing this recipe.
We have been having a rather chilly and rainy June…so I am still in soups and hot dishes:)…maybe soon we’ll warm up. Have a great week!
Perfect salad for the humidity outside
I love currants and now that I think about it I realize that I always eat them raw, it’s time to explore options 
Have a great week Megi!!
I just love room temperature or chilled salads like this. I wonder why I never think to buy currents.
Oh, and I am so glad that you and your family enjoyed the scones!
I love the addition of the fresh mint. I bet it would be just as fabulous with raisins as I’m not a huge fan of the currants. I’ll have to try this!
Grain salads like these are some of my favorite things to eat! I’m loving all of your mix-ins in this!
Beautiful salad! I so enjoyed the recipe we made for FFWD. I will have to give your version a try! Love anything with grains. So satisfying!
I could have lived just on salads in summer time! Yours look really delicious!
Looks wonderful! I will definitely try this meal, because i love quinoa
have a nice weekend,
Lucy,
wow, this salad looks fabulous!