Simple Curry Spiced Quinoa with Chickpeas, Herbs, and Raisins Recipe
A vibrant and nutritious Simple Curry Spiced Quinoa salad combining flavorful curry-seasoned quinoa with fresh herbs, chickpeas, golden raisins, and crunchy almonds. This easy-to-make dish is perfect as a light meal or side, offering a delightful blend of savory, tangy, and sweet flavors with a wholesome texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Fusion
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
Scale
Quinoa and Cooking Liquid
- 1 cup uncooked white quinoa
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1 cup water
- 2 teaspoons curry powder
Dressing and Mix-Ins
- Juice from 1 lemon (~2 tablespoons)
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup chopped herbs (green onion, cilantro, parsley)
- 1/2 cup golden raisins
- 1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas, drained
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Rinse Quinoa: Rinse the quinoa thoroughly under cold running water using a fine mesh strainer to remove any bitterness caused by saponins.
- Cook Quinoa: Transfer the rinsed quinoa, water, vegetable broth, and curry powder to a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until the quinoa is tender and all liquid has been absorbed.
- Steam Rest: Turn off the heat but keep the lid on. Let the quinoa sit covered for an additional 5 minutes to finish steaming and ensure fluffiness.
- Fluff and Mix: Fluff the quinoa gently with a fork and transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil, chopped herbs, golden raisins, drained chickpeas, slivered almonds, sea salt, and ground black pepper. Toss everything together until well combined. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as desired before serving.
Notes
- Rinsing quinoa is essential to remove the bitter outer coating called saponin.
- For more texture, toast the slivered almonds lightly before mixing.
- This salad can be served warm, at room temperature, or chilled.
- Feel free to substitute or add other nuts like cashews or walnuts.
- To make it vegan, ensure the vegetable broth is free from animal products.
Keywords: curry quinoa salad, vegan quinoa recipe, chickpea salad, healthy quinoa dish, curry spiced grains
