This healthy Asian-inspired Tricolor Quinoa Salad recipe is flavor-packed and easy to make. Along with edamame, sweet corn, red bell peppers and green onions, the quinoa is tossed with a sesame vinaigrette. Serve this quinoa salad for lunch or dinner. It's also delicious as a dip with tortilla chips.

recipe for tricolor quinoa salad in bowl with wooden spoon.

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what's to love about this recipe

This hearty and nutritious salad is one of my favorites. It's a combination of nutty flavored tricolor quinoa and fresh vegetables with a delicious sesame, soy and Dijon mustard vinaigrette.

Serve it with steak, fish, pork or chicken for the the perfect side dish. It's also a vegetarian entrée that doesn't skimp on flavor. Serve with tortilla chips for a hearty dip..

I make this recipe at least once a week. It's one of my go-to recipes to meal prep for my personal chef clients.

This protein-packed quinoa recipe is easy to make. And it stays fresh in the refrigerator for up to 4 days when packed in an airtight container.

quinoa, edamame, lemon, red pepper, corn on the cob, soy sauce, sesame oil.

ingredients & substitutions

Scroll down to the full recipe for quantities of the ingredients.

tricolor quinoa ~ The trio of white, red and black quinoa has a nutty flavor with a fluffy and chewy texture. Regular white quinoa is an alternative.
reduced sodium chicken stock ~ Use water or vegetable stock to make this a vegan or vegetarian dish.
reduced sodium soy sauce ~ Substitute tamari to make the recipe gluten free.
toasted sesame oil
rice wine vinegar
Dijon mustard
lemon juice
honey ~ Use light brown sugar to make this dish vegan.
ground ginger
shelled and cooked edamame
cooked sweet corn ~ Corn niblets from ears of corn are my first choice. But frozen or canned corn are suitable substitutes.
red bell pepper ~ Green, yellow or orange peppers are delicious too.
green onions ~ Also known as scallions.
fresh parsley ~ Cilantro or chervil are other fresh herbs to try.
toasted sesame seeds
kosher salt
black pepper

how to cook perfect quinoa

Making a batch of tricolor quinoa is as easy as making a pot of fluffy white rice.

In a small pot with a tight fitting lid, add the the quinoa and your liquid of choice (water, chicken, vegetable or beef broth or stock) in a ratio of quinoa to liquid of 1 to 2. To make 4 servings, put 1 cup of quinoa and 2 cups of water (or stock or broth) in the pot.
Bring the liquid to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot and simmer for a cooking time of 12-15 minutes. The liquid should be absorbed, the quinoa will look fluffy, and small spirals (the germ) separates from the seeds.
Turn the heat off and let the cooked quinoa sit covered for 5 to 10 minutes. This allows the any remaining moisture to be absorbed so the cooked quinoa will be fluffier.
After 10 minutes, fluff the quinoa with a fork and its ready to eat.

step by step recipe directions

Step 1. Cook the quinoa. Then place it in a large bowl and fluff with a fork.

Step 2. Mix the vinaigrette ingredients of reduced sodium soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, honey and ginger powder in a small bowl.

Step 3. Combine the quinoa salad ingredients. To the bowl with cooked quinoa, add the cooked edamame and corn, red bell pepper, green onions, fresh parsley and toasted sesame seeds.

Step 4. Add the vinaigrette. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to coat.

Step 5. Season to taste with kosher salt and black pepper.

recipe tips & suggestions

For extra flavorful quinoa, cook it in chicken broth. Beef or vegetable broth are options too.
For the best results and to avoid clumpy and mushy quinoa, let the quinoa sit covered for 5 to 10 minutes after it finishes cooking. This allows the any remaining moisture to be absorbed so the cooked quinoa will be fluffier.
To make this a vegan quinoa salad, substitute light brown sugar for the honey.
This is great to make with leftover quinoa. Just toss it with the vinaigrette and vegetables and serve.

frequently asked questions

what is tricolor quinoa?

Tricolor quinoa is a technically a seed, but is classified as a whole grain. It's a blend of white, red and black quinoa and a complete protein. The texture is slightly chewier and it's nutty flavor is more pronounced than just white quinoa.

is tricolor quinoa gluten free?

Yes! It's gluten free.

is tricolor quinoa a good option for vegans and vegetarians?

Definitely! Quinoa is a great way to add a plant based source of protein to your diet. It's packed with all nine essential amino acids and is a good source of fiber and iron.

do you need to rinse tricolor quinoa before cooking it?

It's all up to your personal preference. There's no harm in cooking quinoa without rinsing it in water. Most packaged quinoa is pre-rinsed. Some people find that it can have a slightly bitter taste. Rinsing several times in cold water can remove coating which can be bitter.

serving suggestions

This tricolor quinoa recipe is tasty served warm, at room temperature or chilled. It's perfect as a dip with tortillas chips at your summer barbecues, a light lunch or a side dish along with baked chicken, a stir fry, or grilled steak or fish.

I love to serve this as a vegetarian entrée. It's hearty and delicious on its own.

Or serve it as a big tossed salad. Toss the tricolor quinoa salad with shredded cole slaw blend, chopped lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and your favorite dressing or vinaigrette.

For meat lovers, toss in some cooked shrimp or chicken for a hearty main dish.