Simple Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Dijon Mustard Salad Dressing

Your perfect fall salad is here: presenting the best recipe for Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Dijon Mustard Salad Dressing. Try it as a light fall lunch or healthy dinner. Add extra protein to create a balanced healthy dinner idea. This cold quinoa salad is great to store for later in the week.

This is the perfect fall recipe to make on repeat for a quick and delicious lunch.

This was inspired by my other quinoa recipe on this site, and pairs well with this chicken in a maple Dijon mustard sauce.

Jump to:

• 💖 Why You'll Love Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Dijon Mustard Salad Dressing?
• 🥣 Ingredients Needed for Cold Quinoa Salad Recipe
• 👩‍🍳 Instructions
• ⭐️ Laura's Top Tip
• 🧡 Learn How to Make a Quinoa Chickpea Salad Recipe
• 📖 Recipe Card
• 🧡 Learn How to Make a Dijon Mustard Salad Dressing Recipe
• 📖 Recipe Card
• ⭐️ Top Cooking Tip
• 💙 Substitutions
• 🍴 Variations
• 🍽️ Serving Suggestions
• ❄️ Storage
• ⭐️ Pro Nutrition Tip
• 🍳 Equipment
• My Favorite Fine Mesh Strainer Sieve
• 🤔 ⁉️ FAQ - Common Questions
• 😀 Enjoy This Quinoa Chickpea Salad Recipe Today!
• ❤️ You Might Also Love These
• 🤲 Pairing
• 💬 Comments

🥣 Ingredients Needed for Cold Quinoa Salad Recipe

To make this cold quinoa salad recipe, you will simply need to gather a few key ingredients that are perfect staples for any fall recipe.

1. Quinoa - A great source of iron and fiber. I recommend meal prepping a large batch of your favorite quinoa to use in this healthy salad recipe and another dinner recipe later in the week.
2. Kale - I like Lacinato kale (Dino) for this recipe. Be sure to chop the kale thinly and massage well with the Dijon mustard salad dressing.
3. Purple Cabbage - Cabbage contains phytoestrogens, which are great for hormone balance.
4. Carrots - Carrots help balance the levels of progesterone, estrogen, and cortisol due to the high fiber content. The fiber in carrots will help rid the body of excess estrogen levels to regulate your hormones more efficiently.
5. Dried Cranberries - I don't know about you, but cranberries remind me of crisp fall days. I love the tangy flavor of dried cranberries add to this salad.
6. Chickpeas - Zinc in chickpeas helps support clear skin.
7. Goat Cheese - I like the salty bite of goat cheese, but you can swap with feta cheese. If dairy-free, swap for dairy-free cheese or simply omit.
8. Dijon Mustard - I prefer the tangy flavor of Dijon mustard, but any mustard will work in this Dijon mustard salad dressing recipe.
9. Extra Virgin Olive Oil - Heart healthy and full of rich body and flavor for the base of this Dijon mustard salad dressing recipe.
10. Apple Cider Vinegar - ACV is amazing to regulate blood sugar levels and helps with digestion.
11. Lemon Juice - A splash will balance the mustard with a bit of tangy flavor.

See the recipe card for quantities.

👩‍🍳 Instructions

Here's how to make this easy, fall salad recipe, made with hearty vegetables like kale, cabbage, and carrots.

🔥 Cook quinoa according to package instructions. Prep the dressing by whisking together all the ingredients.

😁 Add all ingredients to a medium mixing bowl. Toss with Dijon mustard salad dressing until well combined. Serve.

🧡 Learn How to Make a Quinoa Chickpea Salad Recipe

Learn how easy it is to make a salad recipe made with quinoa and chickpeas.

📖 Recipe Card

Here is the recipe for a simple Dijon mustard salad dressing. You can get creative and use this as a chicken or tofu marinade.

🧡 Learn How to Make a Dijon Mustard Salad Dressing Recipe

Learn how easy it is to make an easy Dijon mustard salad dressing recipe to use for salads or marinades.

📖 Recipe Card

💙 Substitutions

Check out some easy substitutions and variations to customize this healthy quinoa chickpea salad recipe to your liking.

• Quinoa - Substitute with couscous, bulgur wheat, or brown rice for a different grain base.
• Chickpeas - Replace with white beans, black beans, or lentils for variety.
• Dried Cranberries - Use raisins, chopped dried apricots, or fresh pomegranate seeds for a different sweet-tart element.
• Cheese - Instead of goat cheese, you can use dairy-free or feta cheese.
• Protein Swap - 1 cup Chicken Breast (Shredded). Omit beans and swap with your favorite prepared chicken or rotisserie chicken from the deli.

🍴 Variations

Here are a few additional ways to customize this recipe to your liking.

• Vegan - The goat cheese can be easily swapped for your favorite vegan cheese.
• Protein Boost - Incorporate grilled chicken, tofu, or edamame for added protein.
• Vegetable Medley - Add diced bell peppers, cucumbers, or cherry tomatoes for extra crunch and nutrients.
• Nutty Crunch - Sprinkle toasted almonds, walnuts, or sunflower seeds to enhance texture and flavor.
• Herb Infusion - Introduce fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, or dill for aromatic freshness.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

This salad is perfect as a light main course or a hearty side dish. Pair it with grilled fish or roasted vegetables for a balanced meal. For a Mediterranean twist, serve alongside hummus and gluten-free pita bread.

❄️ Storage

Store any delicious leftovers of this quinoa chickpea salad in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Typically with salad recipes, you should keep the salad and dressing separate until you are ready to eat, but this salad is unique.

The hearty fall vegetables and quinoa soak up the flavor of the Dijon mustard salad dressing. The longer the dressing is on the kale and cabbage, the easier it is to digest.

🍳 Equipment

A fine-mesh sieve is essential for rinsing quinoa to remove its natural saponin coating, which can impart a bitter taste. Proper rinsing ensures a cleaner, more pleasant flavor in your cooked quinoa.

🤔 ⁉️ FAQ - Common Questions

These FAQs should help address any common concerns or questions you may have about making your quinoa salad recipe.

😀 Enjoy This Quinoa Chickpea Salad Recipe Today!

If you make this delicious fall salad recipe, let me know in the comment section below.

I would also love to hear what you think, or take a photo and tag me @EatYourNutrition on Instagram. I love seeing your photos. #EatYourNutrition #LauraVillanueva

❤️ You Might Also Love These

Looking for other healthy salad recipes like this? Try these:

🤲 Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with quinoa chickpea salad:

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