This simple and delicious sugar snap pea quinoa salad features protein-packed chickpeas and a honey shallot dijon dressing. It’s a great vegetarian dish for potlucks, weekday lunches, and more!
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A few years ago, I found the most AMAZING recipe for a quinoa salad that had chickpeas, grapes, and tabbouleh. I still make this recipe on repeat every spring and summer, because when I fell for it…I fell hard ;-). My favorite thing about this combo is the crunchiness/crispness the grapes add!
Since falling in love with this recipe, I’ve tried to create other quinoa salads with a similar texture. Finally, I’ve come up with one that I love just as much as the original! This Sugar Snap Pea Quinoa Salad has an amazing crunch from tasty snap peas, and a delicious combo of complementary ingredients.
Sure, we may have gotten 9 inches of snow yesterday in Minneapolis, but that’s not stopping me from creating beautiful, green dishes to get me in the mood for spring. Sugar snap peas are one of my favorite spring ingredients.
I typically add them to salads or eat them with hummus, but now I have another amazing way to sneak them into my meals. Not only is this Sugar Snap Pea Quinoa Salad the perfect side dish, it can also be a meal prep staple and goes great with just about any packed lunch.
AND this recipe comes with an added bonus: the dressing! Seriously, this stuff is so good I could drink it. I used it on top of the butter lettuce salad I made for Easter, and knew I had to incorporate it into a blog recipe…stat! Honey + shallots = heaven!
How to Make Sugar Snap Pea Quinoa Salad
- Prep the quinoa according to package instructions.
- While that’s cooking, whisk together the dressing in a separate bowl.
- Combine the quinoa, snap peas, and chickpeas in a bowl. Drizzle the dressing on top, and stir until combined.
You can serve this salad right away, but it will be slightly warm from the cooked quinoa. I prefer to keep in in the fridge for an hour or so to chill the salad and let the flavors meld! Leftovers will keep for up to 5 days.
Ready for a party in your mouth? Then give this snap pea quinoa salad a try! (Side note: I watched an episode of Chopped last night and one of the chefs had a food truck named “Party Palate” because her food was supposed to be “a party in your mouth every time.” I loved this and want to adopt this phrase, haha!)
It has non-starchy veggies (snap peas!) as well as a complex carbohydrate (quinoa), so all you need is a lean protein to make a complete meal. Serve this dish with baked fish, pork tenderloin, or chicken breast.
More Snap Pea Recipes
While you’re here, you may also want to check out the Fresh Melon and Sugar Snap Pea Salad or the Spring Pea Orzo Fried Rice! Both of those recipes also showcase the delicious flavor of sugar snap peas.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear how you like it! Please rate/review using the stars on the recipe card or in the comments section below.
Sugar Snap Pea Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 1 large shallot - finely chopped
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1.5 tsp dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare quinoa according to package directions to yield 2 cups cooked. If there are no package directions, combine 1 cup of quinoa with 2 cups of water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for ~15 minutes. Reserve 2 cups cooked quinoa for the salad, and store any leftover in the fridge for other uses.
- While the quinoa is cooking, wash and dry the sugar snap peas, and slice them in half or bite-sized pieces. Prepare the dressing by combining all ingredients in a small bowl and whisking until smooth.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked quinoa, snap peas, and chickpeas. Pour dressing over mixture and stir until combined. You may not need the entire dressing, so be sure to pour it slowly or in batches to your desired taste. Save the rest of the dressing for salads or other uses.
Notes
- You can serve this salad right away or keep it in the fridge for an hour or so to chill.
- Leftovers last for up to 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
Nutrition
Happy hump day! – Lizzie
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