Description
This Moroccan Chickpea Quinoa Salad combines fluffy golden quinoa, hearty chickpeas, sweet dried cranberries, fresh parsley, and crunchy toasted almonds with warm turmeric, cumin, and cinnamon. It’s an easy vegetarian lunch, side dish, or make-ahead meal-prep recipe.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa
- 2 cups vegetarian broth or water
- 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- ⅔ cup dried cranberries
- ⅓ cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
- ½ cup sliced toasted almonds
Instructions
- Heat the coconut oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for 3–5 minutes, until soft and translucent.
- Stir in the turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, salt, and black pepper. Cook for about 30 seconds, stirring, until fragrant.
- Add the vegetarian broth or water and quinoa. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to low. Cook for 15 minutes.
- Remove the pot from the heat and fluff the cooked quinoa gently with a fork.
- Stir in the chickpeas, dried cranberries, and parsley until evenly combined. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed.
- Top with toasted sliced almonds and extra parsley. Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled.
Notes
- Rinse the quinoa before cooking if it isn’t labeled pre-rinsed.
- Vegetable broth gives the quinoa more flavor, but water works well too.
- Toast the almonds for a deeper, nuttier flavor and better crunch.
- For meal prep, divide the cooled salad among airtight containers or mason jars.
- Store the almonds separately and add them just before serving to keep them crunchy.
- Raisins or chopped dried apricots can replace the cranberries.
- A squeeze of fresh lemon juice can be added before serving for extra brightness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Moroccan-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (¼ of recipe)
- Calories: 470 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 75 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg