Golden Roasted Cauliflower and Quinoa Salad

By Linley Hanson

4/24/2024

This Golden Roasted Cauliflower and Quinoa Salad is a healthy, satisfying, and delicious salad that everyone in your family will love. It is great for a veggie and protein-packed lunch or a light quinoa salad for dinner. You can’t beat the savory tahini dressing with sweet raisins for the perfect sweet and savory combination!

We are on a big kick to develop salads that aren’t mostly greens, like our no-lettuce salad . This recipe was inspired by our local coop, Seward Coop in Minneapolis. They routinely have delicious, veggie-packed deli salads that are the perfect grab-and-go lunch. I just had one of their Mediterranean cauliflower salads and really wished it had a little quinoa in it. This cauliflower quinoa salad is flavored with turmeric, salt, and other warm spices that are good for digestion and taste good, too.

Featured Comment

“Love the combination of flavors and ingredients here. The dish simply looks amazing.” – Vince

This healthy roasted cauliflower and quinoa salad is a great addition to any meal-prep lunch or dinner. If you love cheese, definitely add the feta. It adds a whole other element to the salad. You will find team fit foodie eating this salad about once a week right now. It has become a staple! It would be a great salad for a Mother’s Day Brunch or for a potluck for Memorial Day. No matter what you make this golden roasted cauliflower and quinoa salad for, you won’t be disappointed.

Ingredients for this Cauliflower Quinoa Salad Recipe

Quinoa : This nutrient-dense grain is the base of our salad. You could use any type of whole grain you like, though.
Pistachios : These add a salty, crunchy texture to our salad. Feel free to use other types of nuts.
Garbanzo beans : Aka, chickpeas, add some fiber to help keep you full!
Cauliflower: We used cauliflower as our main veggie in the salad as it has a neutral flavor, perfect for layering with seasoning. It’s also a great source of fiber.
Tahini : Creates a creamy and nutty dressing that ties the salad together and adds richness.
Turmeric : Adds this warm, earthy vibe and gives the cauliflower that beautiful golden color.
Raisins : They bring in a touch of sweetness and chewiness that balances out all the savory flavors.
Honey : Just a drizzle adds that perfect hint of sweetness to the dressing.

finished roasted cauliflower in a cast iron pan - 6

here’s a tip!

Make sure the cauliflower florets are cut into small pieces so they roast evenly.

Make this Quinoa Salad Your Own!

The great thing about this salad is that you can get super creative with ingredients. Here are some variations you can make with this recipe:

Swap out the cauliflower for broccoli or Brussel sprouts .
Ditch the raisins and use dried cranberries or dried figs instead.
Instead of quinoa, you could use barley , bulgur , millet , brown rice , couscous , or any other type of whole grain .
Use sunflower seeds or any other type of seed or nut instead of pistachios.
Add a zesty flair by adding some lemon zest on top.

Can I make this roasted cauliflower salad vegan?

Absolutely! Just swap out the honey for a vegan sweetener like agave syrup.

Storage

Pop leftover quinoa cauliflower salad into an airtight container—make sure it’s sealed tight!—and stick it in the fridge. It’ll keep well for up to 5 days so it’s perfect for meal prep. Just a heads-up, though, the flavors really meld together overnight, so it might taste even better tomorrow!

Serving Suggestions

You could totally eat this salad on its own, but feel free to use it as a side dish alongside the following main dishes:

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Spatchcock Chicken
Dill Pickle Chicken Salad
Lemon Butter Pan Seared Salmon
Air Fryer Firecracker Shrimp
Cast Iron Steak
Baked Lemon Chicken

A single serving of the roasted cauliflower salad - 8

Ingredients1x2x3x

Dressing

▢ 1/4 cup olive oil
▢ 1/2 tablespoon tahini
▢ 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
▢ 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
▢ 1/8 teaspoon salt
▢ 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
▢ 1/4 teaspoon ground curry
▢ 1 teaspoon honey

Roasted Cauliflower

▢ large head cauliflower , chopped
▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil
▢ 2 teaspoons garlic powder
▢ 1 teaspoon turmeric
▢ 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
▢ 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
▢ 1/8 teaspoon paprika
▢ 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
▢ salt and pepper , to taste

For the salad

▢ 1 cup uncooked quinoa
▢ 2 cups water
▢ 1 15 oz. can garbanzo beans , rinsed
▢ 1/3 cup shelled pistachios
▢ 1/4 cup chopped parsley
▢ 1/4 cup raisins

Optional Ingredients

▢ 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese*

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400ºF and spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
Next, mix the garlic powder, turmeric, curry powder, cumin, paprika, cinnamon, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix. Set aside.
Spread the chopped cauliflower out on the baking sheet, drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle with the spices.
Place the cauliflower in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
While the cauliflower is baking, prepare the dressing by adding all ingredients to a mason jar. Close the jar tight and shake until all the ingredients are combined. Set aside.
To prepare the quinoa , add the quinoa and water to a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat.
Turn the temperature to low heat and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the quinoa is cooked.
Remove from the saucepan and place the quinoa in a separate bowl to cool.
Let the roasted cauliflower cool for 15 minutes before chopping into bite-sized pieces.
Then, add all of the ingredients for the salad into a large bowl. Mix well.
Pour dressing over salad ingredients and toss until everything is coated in dressing.
Serve cold and enjoy!

Tips & Notes

*Nutrition information does not include feta.

Watch It

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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