Quinoa salad’s great, isn’t it? Full of nutrients, easy to make, and as versatile as your playlist.
We’ve all been there, staring at the bowl, thinking, “What else can we add to this feast?”
It’s simple. We’ve found 10 side dishes that’ll make your quinoa salad sing. And yes, they’re as yummy as they sound.
Each suggestion comes from our own kitchen disasters and triumphs.
We promise, no fancy chef talk here. Just good, honest food that fits right in at any table. No more quinoa salad loneliness.
Ready to give your salad some company?
Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Quinoa Salad?
Quinoa salad is quite tasty on its own.
But it needs some help when it comes to providing a hearty meal.
Adding side dishes to your meal is essential if you’re serving during a family gathering or a formal dinner with work friends.
They help you give a better presentation and allow your guests to enjoy different food options.
It can also elevate, balance, and bring out the flavors of your main course.
Luckily, you don’t have to worry about finding a side dish for quinoa salad, as it goes well with many dishes.
What to Serve with Quinoa Salad? 10 BEST Side Dishes
Check out our ten best side dishes for quinoa salad to find inspiration for your next meal.
1. Marinated and Grilled Zucchini
Zucchini is a highly versatile vegetable.
You can eat them raw and fresh or grill them using your favorite seasonings.
Marinated and grilled zucchini will soon become your best friend for dinner and lunch parties as they go with almost anything, including quinoa salad.
You only need some zucchini, oil, and your favorite herbs to marinate them.
Set them aside for some time, and you’re ready to turn up the grill.
Serve them freshly cooked for that extra crunch and juiciness.
2. Carrot and Cabbage Slaw
You might wonder how a salad would taste good with another salad-like side dish.
Well, a carrot and cabbage slaw will answer the question.
As simple as this side dish seems, it has a bold and vibrant flavor that tastes incredible with quinoa salad.
It will also give you a fulfilling crunch with every bite.
The bright colors of the vegetables will also make your meal look stunning with the quinoa salad.
Overall, carrot and cabbage slaw is a quick and easy side dish that will take only a few minutes to prepare.
It is the perfect option if you don’t want to go too fancy.
3. Nutmeg and Cinnamon Apples
This list would not be complete without a fruit.
And what better than apples for a quinoa salad, especially when you’re using nutmeg and cinnamon, too.
Nutmeg and Cinnamon apples will give you sweet, aromatic, and fresh elements to your meal.
As you might already know, apples, with their sweet and sometimes sour taste, pair beautifully with the spicy flavors of nutmeg and cinnamon.
This side dish has flavors that beautifully contrast those of your quinoa salad.
Give it a try if you want to serve an exciting dish for your friends with a sweet tooth.
They will surely be happy about it.
4. Cilantro Lime Corn Pancakes
Serve something sweet and crispy by making cilantro lime corn pancakes with your quinoa salad.
You can prepare crispy and fluffy corn pancakes if you have canned or fresh corn.
They make a great side dish for quinoa salad, whether you plan to serve them during breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Cilantro lime corn pancakes taste similar to regular pancakes.
You just have to use corn to get a unique texture.
This side dish requires only simple ingredients like corn, flour, baking powder, eggs, milk, salt, and butter.
5. Classic Gazpacho
Impress your dinner guests with something unique and delicious- Gazpacho.
It is a cold soup with raw vegetables blended in; you won’t want anything else.
Gazpacho is a popular dish in Portugal and Spain.
People love to consume it because of its freshness, particularly during a hot day.
You can make classic gazpacho using simple items like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, garlic, onions, and olive oil.
It has a tangy taste- perfect for your spicy quinoa salad.
Since this side dish is best served cold, you’d want to prepare it in advance and refrigerate it until serving time.
It is a good solution for those who want to have their meal prepared in advance.
6. Grilled Chicken in Cilantro Lime
Combining chicken and salad will never go wrong.
Use something flavourful like cilantro lime to season your chicken; your guests won’t be able to say no to a hearty meal.
Grilled chicken in cilantro lime is the perfect dish for any kind of day or occasion.
It is healthy, fresh, satisfying, and tastes great with quinoa salad.
Chicken adds substance to the meal that quinoa salad lacks.
Therefore, you can serve it without hesitation if you’re out of ideas.
Turn up your grill to 425 degrees to get perfectly cooked and juicy chicken.
7. Fried Tofu with Sriracha
You can also enjoy quinoa salad or tofu alone.
But when combined, these two foods take the taste buds out of this world.
Adding Sriracha to the tofu gives it a nice kick and spruces up the bland flavor of the former.
So, you shouldn’t miss out on this side dish, even if just to taste the combo.
The recipe for fried tofu with Sriracha is very straightforward.
You wouldn’t need to worry about using other ingredients as you only need these two items to create the tastiest side dish.
Plus, it takes only a few minutes to make.
8. Pulled Pork Sandwich
Sometimes you’ve got to go all the way and indulge in your favorite foods.
And we are confident that pulled pork sandwich is a crowd-pleaser.
Make some classic Texas pulled pork sandwiches- it will give your friends the ultimate meal.
Since this side dish is so filling and flavourful, it is the perfect pair for something light like a quinoa salad.
The two dishes contrast beautifully and elevate one another.
Although you’ll need a little more time to prepare this one, it’s worth every minute.
No one would be unhappy to see quinoa salad and pulled pork sandwich served for dinner.
9. Curry Seasoned Roasted Cauliflower
If you want your meal to be entirely vegetarian, roasted cauliflower is another side dish that works well with quinoa salad.
To make it even more flavourful, we suggest using curry seasoning for seasoning the cauliflower and spicing it up.
Since you don’t need to use any oil or fat, this side dish is perfect while planning to serve a healthy meal.
It is also a very cost-effective option if you’re not down to spend heftily on your side dishes.
10. Pad Thai
If you want to show your Asian cuisine skills, there’s no dish better than pad Thai to do that.
It is a stir-fry dish made using tofu, bean sprouts, rice noodles, fish sauce, tamarind, and dried shrimp.
Pad Thai is the ultimate noodle side dish that never fails to deliver a comforting and hearty meal.
Fortunately, it tastes fantastic with quinoa salad.
Make authentic pad Thai at home and beat the restaurant-quality recipes easily using simple ingredients.
You can make a traditional pad Thai or add your personal touch for a unique meal.
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