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    Home » Grains Recipes

    How to Make a Grain Salad | Broccoli Quinoa Salad

    LAST UPDATED: September 16, 2018 PUBLISHED: September 16, 2018 By Pam Greer 26 Comments As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This easy simple formula will allow you to make any kind of Grain Salad!  Like this Broccoli Quinoa Salad with Grapes and Toasted Pumpkin Seeds.

    Post may contain affiliate links, full disclosure on sidebar.

    Large bowl filled with a grain salad with broccoli and grapes visible on a white background and old tea towel.

     

    Add Grains to Bump Up a Main Dish Salad

    I love salads.  Especially main dish salads.  Dinner in a bowl.  Easy peasy.  When I have a main dish salad, it has to have something in it to make it a little more substantial.  Sometimes it's meat or chicken or fish, but lately my favorite way to bump up my salads is with grains.  I absolutely love grain salads.  Love, love, love them.  I spent time googling and reviewing my cookbooks and came up with a formula.  A formula for a grain salad that you can tweak into and endless number of combinations.

     

    Grain salad with lots of greens with text overlay reading How to Make a Grain Salad

    How to Make a Grain Salad

    It is composed of a grain, a veggie, greens, fruit, and nuts.  So you could have a quinoa, broccoli salad with spinach, grapes and pumpkin seeds - like I have here.  Or you could have a barley, carrot salad with kale, apples and sunflower seeds.  See, how easy it is!  For my dressing I use my standard juice of one lemon mixed with equal parts olive oil.  But you could even vary that, substituting orange juice, or any type of vinegar for the acid.  You could even change up the oil and use a nut oil, or sesame oil.  The possibilities are endless!

    I might have used too many explanation marks in that last paragraph, but honestly this is game changing.  So many grain salad possibilities

    Looking for more broccoli recipes:

    melon colored bowl with broccoli salad with vase of flowers

    Here's another broccoli salad that is extra yummy - Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cranberries!

    Cast iron skillet with broccoli, rice and sausage

    How about an easy one pan meal - Baked Rice with Sausage and Broccoli.

    plate with grilled chicken and broccoli salad

    One of my favorite side salads this Honey Mustard Broccoli Salad will become your favorite too!

    Print Pin Save Saved!
    5 from 44 votes

    How to Make a Grain Salad | Broccoli Quinoa Salad

    A basic formula for making a grain salad like this Broccoli Quinoa Salad. 
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Total Time 15 minutes
    Servings 4
    Calories 265kcal

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups cooked grains I used quinoa
    • 2 cups steamed or blanched vegetables cut bite size (I used broccoli)
    • 3 cups chopped greens I used baby spinach
    • 1 cup fruit cut bite-sized (I used seedless red grapes)
    • ½ cup toasted nuts or seeds I used pumpkin seeds
    • juice of one lemon
    • equal parts olive oil
    • salt and pepper

    Instructions

    • Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl up to the lemon juice. In a small jar with a lid, combine the lemon juice with equal parts olive oil and shake to combine. Pour over the salad and toss, season with salt and pepper as desired.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 46mg | Potassium: 625mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2570IU | Vitamin C: 48.2mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 3.9mg

    More Grains Recipes

    • Instant Pot Pineapple Rice
    • Mediterranean Rice Salad
    • Rich and Creamy Mushroom Risotto
    • Instant Pot Pumpkin Pie Steel Cut Oats

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Miz Helen says

      October 07, 2017 at 4:18 pm

      5 stars
      I just pinned your awesome salad! Hope you have a great weekend and thanks so much for sharing your post with us at Full Plate Thursday!
      Miz Helen

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        October 08, 2017 at 1:51 pm

        Thanks for pinning!

        Reply
    2. Ann says

      October 01, 2017 at 9:52 pm

      This recipe and variations will make it's way on to our meal rotation

      Reply
    3. Ann says

      October 01, 2017 at 9:49 pm

      This recipe will be added to our menu plan. You do photograph food so well Pam.

      Reply
    4. Caren Gittleman says

      September 29, 2016 at 11:02 am

      Fabulous suggestions/recipe! Just pinned this, thanks!

      Reply
    5. Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says

      September 29, 2016 at 9:52 am

      Grains are so great to use in salads. I love the texture they add, not to mention how it takes the nutrition level up a notch or two.

      Reply
    6. khadija says

      September 29, 2016 at 9:18 am

      me too! I love grains in my salad. Mostly lentil, chickpeas but I will add quinoa to the list now. Than you!

      Reply
    7. Annie @ Annie's Noms says

      September 29, 2016 at 9:08 am

      Oooh this looks delicious! So filling, but healthy! Love all the different textures and colours you have in it too!

      Reply
    8. Platter Talk says

      September 29, 2016 at 8:44 am

      Healthy, clean and satisfying. Looks great and good for us, too! Thanks.

      Reply
    9. Shashi at RunninSrilankan says

      September 29, 2016 at 6:54 am

      I absolutely LOVE salads and enjoy them year round, but one thing I don't do often enough is, add grains to them so I am so digging your greens and quinoa filled one! Thanks so much for posting this!

      Reply
    10. Ann says

      September 29, 2016 at 5:44 am

      This looks so delicious and fresh!

      Reply
    11. Rachel @ Simple Seasonal says

      October 01, 2015 at 4:55 pm

      I love grains mixed in with my salad. The addition of the grapes and pumpkin seeds are a nice touch. This would make such a great meal as is!

      Reply
    12. Deb in Hawaii says

      September 21, 2014 at 7:34 pm

      I love good grain salads--especially with some sort of nutty topping--so satisfying. I love how pretty this one looks in the bowl too. 😉 Thanks for sharing it with Souper Sundays.

      Reply
    13. Miz Helen says

      September 21, 2014 at 7:03 pm

      5 stars
      Great Salad! Hope you are having a great weekend and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
      Come Back Soon!
      Miz Helen

      Reply
    14. Robyn @ simply fresh dinners says

      September 18, 2014 at 8:15 am

      5 stars
      Good morning, Pam,
      What a creative idea to add grapes - absolutely love it! And the pumpkin seeds too - genius. This is a dish I could make on a regular basis and always look forward to. Thanks for a great recipe!

      Reply
    15. Marjie says

      September 17, 2014 at 2:49 pm

      It's a good formula!

      Reply
    16. Patricia Scarpin says

      September 17, 2014 at 10:38 am

      It looks so fresh, Pam! It would be perfect to bring to work for lunch.

      Reply
    17. Joanne says

      September 17, 2014 at 6:59 am

      I also tend to add cheese into the mix...but that's just me. 😛 Otherwise, LOVE IT!

      Reply

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