Turnip the Oven

Simple creative food

  • About
    • About Me
    • Contact
  • Books
  • Press
  • Recipes

Strawberry Corn Quinoa Salad with Chipotle Chia Dressing

May 4, 2016 10 Comments

This gluten-free and vegan strawberry corn quinoa salad is packed with fresh, seasonal flavors!

Strawberry Corn Quinoa Salad

Our first dinner party in our new house on Sunday night was a success! Our friends had a great time, and more importantly, none of the kids spilled ketchup on the living room carpet. In fact, after everyone left and Alex and I were doing the dishes, I marvelled at how clean our house had remained. For a long time, Owen has had a terrible habit of “showing” all his toys to visitors, which really meant he upended every single toy bin whenever anyone came over. 
 
This time though, the kids peacefully (for the most part) ate popcorn dinner and watched Frozen in the basement while the adults enjoyed Brussels sprout tacos and this strawberry corn quinoa salad upstairs. Seeing as how I post mostly healthy recipes on my blog, it shouldn’t come as a shock that I love to serve healthy food at parties. I know it seems counter intuitive (parties are for splurging, right?) but I’ve found people are always thankful when a social gathering doesn’t cost them a million calories.
 
I mean, let me tell you, no one was complaining about this bright, bold quinoa salad loaded with fresh spring ingredients. My friend Meghan even emailed and asked for the recipe, so I was really glad I’d taken the time earlier in the day to snap a few quick photos.
 
A gluten-free, vegan, low-calorie, high protein SALAD that I’m daring to call…party food? Yes! 
 

Strawberry Corn Quinoa Salad

This salad makes a great side for entertaining because you can make it entirely in advance. The base is a big bowl of cooked and cooled quinoa (I used red quinoa, which has an earthy, nutty flavor that I love, but regular white quinoa would work fine, too). Then you add diced strawberries, sweet corn, a bunch of minced scallions, some fresh parsley, and a shower of toasted pumpkin seeds. The smoky, citrusy dressing is a mix of fresh orange juice, lime juice, garlic, maple syrup, adobo sauce (from a can of chipotle chilies), and olive oil, plus two teaspoons of chia seeds. Here is a secret: adding chia seeds to your vinaigrette is a great way to thicken it up and give it luxurious body without adding a lot of oil. 
 
Another reason that I love this salad is that it has so much going on, it’s really all you need to accompany your main dish. I mean, of course in my dream world I would spend all day preparing a seven course meal, but IRL I’ve found that I have just enough time to make two dishes, one dessert, shove all the messes in the closet, and light a candle in the downstairs bathroom before my guests arrive. 
 
Strawberry Corn Quinoa Salad
 
Oh, and about that dessert. Yes, I serve healthy food at parties, but I also ALWAYS make a show stopping dessert. This time it was strawberry rhubarb crisp. For a similar recipe, try my whole wheat blueberry apple crisp or my strawberry rhubarb vanilla bean compote!
Strawberry Corn Quinoa Salad with Chipotle Chia Dressing
2016-05-03 23:28:03
Serves 8
This gluten-free, vegan quinoa salad is packed with protein. It makes a great spring or summer party dish. The salad and dressing can be made and stored separately several hours in advance. Toss together just before serving.
Write a review
Save Recipe
Print
For the salad
  1. 1 1/2 cups quinoa (red or white)
  2. 4 ears corn
  3. 2 cups diced strawberries
  4. 6 scallions, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
  5. 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
  6. 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds, toasted
For the dressing
  1. 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
  2. 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  3. 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  4. 1 tablespoon adobo sauce (from a can of chipotle chilies)
  5. 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  6. 2 teaspoons chia seeds
  7. 1 clove garlic, minced
  8. Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
  1. Put the quinoa in a fine mesh sieve and rinse it under cold water. Transfer to a pot with a lid and add 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Transfer the quinoa back to the sieve to drain any excess liquid. Return the drained quinoa to the pot, place a paper towel over the top, and cover it with the lid. Let the quinoa rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
  2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the corn and cook for 3 minutes. Drain and cool. Cut the kernels from the cobs.
  3. Transfer the cooked quinoa to a large bowl. Add the corn kernels, diced strawberries, scallions, parsley and pumpkin seeds.
  4. To make the dressing, combine all the ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Seal the jar and shake until emulsified.
  5. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Taste, and add more salt and pepper as needed.
By Turnip the Oven
Turnip the Oven https://turniptheoven.com/

This strawberry corn quinoa salad is dressed with a subtly smoky chipotle chia seed dressing. Gluten-free, vegan, and packed with protein, it's a great make-ahead potluck dish or take-to-work lunch.

nutrition_information_strawberry_corn_quinoa_salad

Filed Under: Gluten-Free, Salad, Vegan Tagged With: chia seed, chipotle, corn, quinoa, strawberry

« Black Sesame Scones
Strawberry Rose Wine Mojito »

Recipes From Friends

Yummy Recipes by Zeven Up Media

Comments

  1. Liz @ The Clean Eating Couple says

    May 4, 2016 at 10:38 am

    This looks absolutely fantastic!! I need to try it! Quinoa is my favorite grain and I love pairing it with different add ins 🙂

    Reply
    • Lucy Baker says

      May 4, 2016 at 10:50 am

      Thanks Liz, quinoa is my favorite grain too!

      Reply
  2. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

    May 4, 2016 at 1:59 pm

    This sounds awesome!!! O goodness I want some now!

    Reply
  3. Sam | Ahead of Thyme says

    May 4, 2016 at 2:44 pm

    Wow! This salad looks divine! I wish I was having this for lunch today!!

    Reply
  4. Mary says

    May 4, 2016 at 3:00 pm

    I love make-ahead stuff like this for parties! It takes the pressure off me and lets me enjoy my guests. I can’t wait for strawberry season around me!

    Reply
  5. Catherine says

    May 4, 2016 at 3:22 pm

    What a beautiful and wholesome salad. I know I would love this and so would the family! xo, Catherine

    Reply
  6. Kylee from Kylee Cooks says

    May 4, 2016 at 3:30 pm

    This looks so pretty and so healthy. I’m a huge fan of fruit in salads, makes me feel like I’m eating dessert!

    Reply
  7. Beth @ Binky's Culinary Carnival says

    May 4, 2016 at 3:32 pm

    That looks amazing! I have always wanted to try quinoa but never had! This is so colorful and full of such beautiful ingredients and I love the adobe in the vinaigrette!

    Reply
  8. Valentina says

    May 4, 2016 at 5:19 pm

    Sounds wonderful! And how nice to finish a dinner party with a clean house. 🙂

    Reply
  9. Elsa | the whinery says

    May 4, 2016 at 7:51 pm

    This is such a beautiful salad; colourful, delicious and nutritious! And summery too, love it!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Welcome!

Hi! I'm Lucy. Turnip the Oven is my vegetable-focused food blog, but sometimes I'm sidetracked by dessert. My recipes are simple and approachable, and I use fresh, seasonal ingredients. I hope I inspire you to eat more plants…and cookies.

Read more...
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Never miss a recipe! Sign up for my newsletter

Connect with me

Hi there! If you have any questions or comments I'd love to hear from you. You can get in touch with me here or via any of the social media options below! Read my Privacy Policy

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

Still hungry?

Overnight Donut French Toast Casserole
Healthy Crock Pot Turkey Bolognese
Salted Caramel Granola
Vegetarian Bulgur Chili
Easy Leftover Chocolate Rice Pudding
Tuna and Wild Rice Salad with Grapes and Apricots
Blueberry cabbage juice

Copyright © 2023 Turnip The Oven · Implemented by WPopt

Never miss a recipe!
Sign up to my newsletter and get new posts straight to your inbox!
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.
MENU
  • About
    • About Me
    • Contact
  • Books
  • Press
  • Recipes