Green Quinoa Summer Salad with 3 Dressings

This quinoa summer salad recipe is a delicious nourishing bowl with 3 different dressing recipes to choose from. This quinoa salad is an absolute summer crowd pleaser.

This post is sponsored by iHerb and contains affiliate links.

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A salad bowl is only as good as the dressing is. I think having one or two go-to salad dressing recipes is a true game changer. Even the most boring salad can taste absolutely delicious with a good dressing. This green quinoa summer salad is my current favorite.

This salad recipe is simple to make and nourishing. All it needs is a good dressing. In this article I’m sharing my 3 favorite salad dressings (for any salad). And I will also share how I make a good oil-free and low salt dressing that will make any salad taste absolutely delicious.

Ingredients for the quinoa summer salad on a light backdrop.

As you may have noticed, I LOVE to buy my non-perishable products at iHerb. iHerb offers an amazing amount of products I normally use for my dressing recipes, such as nuts, seeds, nut butters, soy sauce, tamari and miso paste.

Why iHerb?

I am a loyal customer at iHerb because I can find everything I need at one place from the comfort of my home knowing that I will have the best possible service and a wide variety of products to choose from. Also, after all these years I am still surprised how fast their delivery is!

A few other reasons why I love iHerb is that they carry over 30,000 natural products and they ship to over 150 countries. And like I said before, they ship fast!

Also, all iHerb orders are shipped from climate-controlled distribution centers to ensure the quality of their products and everything arrives well no matter where they ship to.

If you have a question iHerb offers customer service 24 hours a day / 7 days a week in 10 different languages. That’s what’s so cool about iHerb! No matter where you live you can get the products you love and the service. You can read all about the shipping methods to your country via this link. I think their shipping is fast and very well priced.

For this recipe I placed an order with a few other products (scroll down for a mini grocery haul). I love the quality they offer in products such as the Artisana nut butters, their miso paste, hemp hearts, and organic cashew nuts. It’s so convenient to get all my high-quality products in one place.

iHerb always treats their customers well. You will get a discount off your iHerb order by shopping via THIS LINK.

I have bundled all the products that I’ve used for my dressing recipes plus a few other products in this cart for you here on iHerb so you don’t have to search for all the ingredients I will mention.

Quinoa Summer Salad

This green quinoa summer salad is one to remember for all summers to come. I think a salad is best when it’s simple, yet still containing all the good nourishing ingredients, such as beans, greens and a small amount of fats.

Ingredients for the quinoa summer salad in an oval bowl on a light brown napkin on a light backdrop.

Halved cherry tomatoes on a light blue plate on a wooden cutting board.

This salad hits the spot. The crunchy fresh spinach pairs well with the sweet corn and the beans. The onion gives it a little kick and juicy cherry tomatoes are a must during summer.

Quinoa salad in oval bowl with chopstick on a lightbrown napkin and a light backdrop.

3 Salad Dressings – Fresh / Spicy / Umami

These dressing recipes not only make this quinoa summer salad delicious, it actually goes well with almost all salad recipes.

Some days I crave a more creamy fresh dressing with dill and other days I appreciate the umami flavors in a miso dressing.

Seriously, salads don’t have to be boring. You just need to know how to make a good dressing.  

Three quinoa summer salad dressings next to eachother in small glass jars with a teaspoon on white marble and a light background with a wooden cutting board and wooden utensils in the background.

Cashew Dill Dressing

Of all three dressing recipes, this is the one I make the most often. The cashew dill dressing is creamy, fresh and has a great garlicky taste (I love garlic). With a subtle hint of sweetness. Delicious! I easily overdo it with this dressing and add a double portion to my salad.

Cashew dill dressing in a small glass jar with a teaspoon on a light backdrop with a wooden cutting board and wooden utensils in the background.

Ingredients for the quinoa summer salad dressing on a light backdrop. 

Spicy Almond Dressing

If I crave a creamy dressing with a little punch I make this spicy almond dressing. The almond butter makes it creamy and the hemp hearts give this dressing a nice ”earthy” flavor. This dressing is easily customizable. Feel free to add more pepper or sriracha if this version is too mild for you.

Spicy almond dressing in a small glass jar with a teaspoon on a light backdrop with a wooden cutting board, light brown napkin and wooden utensils in the background.

Ingredients for the quinoa summer salad dressing on a light backdrop.

Miso Dressing

For a dressing with more umami flavors and more acidity I make a miso dressing. This is the strongest dressing in terms of flavor, and an absolute game changer for a simple salad recipe.

Miso dressing in a small glass jar with a teaspoon on a light backdrop with a wooden cutting board and wooden utensils in the background.

Ingredients for the quinoa summer salad dressing on a light backdrop.

How To Make A Good Dressing

If you look at the dressing recipes you will notice there are some flavors that I like to use to make a dressing a success and to balance all flavors.

For a good dressing I first think about what kind of fat I want to use. You could use oil, but I rather go for a nut- or seed butter, whole seeds and nuts or an avocado.

Then I am adding in an acid ingredient, such as lemon juice or a vinegar.

Up next I add a liquid and a sweetener. A liquid can be as simple as water, but also a plant-based milk is a good option. For sweeteners you can add anything you like, such as dates, raisins, or maple syrup.

Finally, I like to think in terms of flavor. Do I want to add spice and heat or more umami flavors? More herbs? Fresh or dried herbs?

I like to add a very mild mustard to my dressing recipes for flavor, but also for a creamy texture.

One last tip. Dressing recipes made without oil (but with a nut- or seed butter instead) will thicken up in the fridge. So if you prefer a thinner dressing add a bit more liquid.

Small blender container with ingredients for the spicy almond dressing with a hand pouring in cashewbutter with a measuring teaspoon on a light backdrop with a wooden cutting board in the background.

My iHerb Grocery Haul

I thought it would be nice to share my last order at iHerb with you. I ordered the ingredients for my dressing recipes, but also Dandy Blend. If you follow me on Instagram you know I love my daily Dandy drink.

ingredients in a jar for the quinoa summer salad dressing on a light backdrop

I also ordered a jar of raw coconut butter. Since I don’t cook or bake with oils at home this is a great alternative. It acts like an oil, but since it is the whole coconut shredded (and not just the extracted oil), it remains a whole food. As you can tell, I’m quite a fan of the Artisana brand that iHerb is offering. Their products are organic and raw. Their nut- and seed butters are the best! As a treat I also wanted to try the raw cacao bliss butter this time.

Ingredients for the quinoa summer salad dressing on a light backdrop.

PB2 is powdered peanut butter without oil. I like to add this to quick dressings (for flavor and to thicken it up), but it is also great in smoothies and you can actually make peanut butter out of it by mixing it with a bit of water. I can only find such a great variety of peanut butter powders at iHerb, they have for example also the organic one.

Discount Offer for iHerb Customers

Don’t forget your discount friends! New and returning customers will get a discount off their iHerb order with no minimum order by shopping via THIS LINK.

If you give this salad with a dressing a try, I’d love to know. Leave a comment below, share it on Facebook or take a picture and tag it #thegreencreator on Instagram! I’d love to see your salad bowls!

Want to save this recipe for later? Pin the recipe to your Pinterest boards: 

Quinoa salad in oval bowl with chopstick on a lightbrown napkin and a light backdrop next to a small jar of dressing with a teaspoon with text for Pinterest.

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Quinoa salad in oval bowl with chopstick on a lightbrown napkin and a light backdrop next to a small jar of dressing with a teaspoon.

Green Quinoa Summer Salad

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews
  • Author: Bianca
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 10
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 2-3 servings 1x
  • Category: salad
  • Cuisine: vegan
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

This green quinoa summer salad is simple to make and nourishing, and all it needs is a good dressing.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup uncooked quinoa
  • 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
  • 1/2 (small) red onion, diced
  • 1 cup fresh spinach
  • 2 tbsp hemp hearts
  • ½ cup cooked corn
  • ½ cup (frozen) green peas
  • ½ cup cooked black beans

Instructions

For the quinoa I’m using one part uncooked quinoa (e.g. 1 cup quinoa) and 2 parts water (e.g. 2 cups water).
Rinse the quinoa under running water. I use a fine mesh colander for this. Drain well.
Add the rinsed quinoa and water to a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once it starts to heat up reduce the heat to medium to simmer. Cook until the quinoa has absorbed the water, This can take about 10 minutes for a small amount of quinoa.
Remove the saucepan from heat, cover, and let the quinoa sit covered for 5 minutes. Then fluff the quinoa with a fork.

For a quick version I am using cooked beans and corn from a glass jar and make sure to rinse them very well.

Peel and cut the onion in small chunks.

Wash and halve the cherry tomatoes.

Wash the fresh spinach and place in a large bowl. Add in all the other ingredients and toss to combine.

Drizzle with a dressing and serve.

 


Notes

This salad can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days without a dressing mixed into the salad.

 

Print
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Cashew dill dressing in a small glass jar with a teaspoon on a light backdrop with a wooden cutting board and wooden utensils in the background.

Cashew Dill Dressing

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews
  • Author: Bianca
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 1
  • Total Time: 6 minutes
  • Yield: 1-2 1x
  • Category: dressing
  • Method: blender
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

This cashew dill dressing is creamy, fresh and has a great garlicky taste with a subtle hint of sweetness.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/3 cup raw cashews
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp mild Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp dill
  • 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 2 pitted Medjool dates
  • ½ to ¼ cup plant based milk (such as soy milk)

Instructions

Blitz everything up in a blender or food processor until smooth and creamy.


Notes

This dressing keeps in a jar (covered) in the fridge for about one week. If it separates, just stir to combine. If it gets too thick add a bit of water or plant-based milk and stir.

Print
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Spicy almond dressing in a small glass jar with a teaspoon on a light backdrop with a wooden cutting board, light brown napkin and wooden utensils in the background.

Spicy Almond Dressing

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews
  • Author: Bianca
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 1
  • Total Time: 6 minutes
  • Yield: 1-2 1x
  • Category: dressing
  • Method: blender
  • Cuisine: vegan
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

This Spicy Almond Dressing has a little punch. The almond butter makes it creamy and the hemp hearts give this dressing a nice ”earthy” flavor. This dressing is easily customizable. Feel free to add more pepper or sriracha if this version is too mild for you.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/4 cup raw almond butter
  • 2 tbsp hemp seeds
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp mild Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp sriracha
  • 1 pitted Medjool date
  • 1/4 tsp (white) pepper
  • ¼ cup plant based milk (such as soy milk)
  • ½ tsp ginger powder

Instructions

Blitz everything up in a blender or food processor until smooth and creamy.


Notes

This dressing keeps (covered) in a jar in the fridge for about one week. If it separates, just stir to combine. If it gets too thick add a bit of water or plant-based milk and stir.

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Miso dressing in a small glass jar with a teaspoon on a light backdrop with a wooden cutting board and wooden utensils in the background.

Miso Dressing

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews
  • Author: Bianca
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 1
  • Total Time: 6 minutes
  • Yield: 1-2 1x
  • Category: dressing
  • Method: blender
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

For a dressing with more umami flavors and more acidity this miso dressing is one to try and love. 


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/4 cup peanut butter or cashew butter
  • 1 tsp flax seeds
  • 2 tbs water
  • 2 tbs rice vinegar
  • 1 Brazil nut
  • 1/2 tsp mild Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp miso paste
  • ½ inch fresh ginger
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup or date syrup
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce (low sodium) or tamari
  • ½ tsp dried lemongrass

Instructions

Blitz everything up in a blender or food processor until smooth and creamy.


Notes

This dressing keeps covered in a jar in the fridge for about one week. If it separates, just stir to combine. If it gets too thick add a bit of water or plant-based milk and stir.

 

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