Home ยป Recipes ยป Salads & Dressings ยป Broccoli Quinoa Salad with Sweet Potato

Broccoli Quinoa Salad with Sweet Potato

posted September 30, 2022 by
Cassandra Morris
It doesnโ€™t get healthier than broccoli salad with quinoa โ€“ full of fiber, healthy grains, and nutrient-packed veggies, this salad is lively and delicious!

Are you team broccoli or team cauliflower? Iโ€™m guilty of being both! Cauliflower is my go-to among those two, and youโ€™ll know this is true if you crawl around my blog a bitโ€ฆ Iโ€™ve got a lot of cauliflower recipes ๐Ÿ™‚ 

But, I digress: our star of the show today is fresh broccoli and sweet potatoes!

For this salad, we will be roasting sweet potato and broccoli. Together with our fluffy quinoa, we will toss briny feta cheese and a divine maple lemon dressing. Itโ€™s all made of fresh, whole-food ingredients and has all the flavors: sweet, citrusy, and savory. 

My secret to great-tasting salads is actually to roast my vegetables. With a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper, youโ€™ll be surprised how the oven brings out the natural flavor of each vegetable. Plus, they get all crispy, which is always a fun texture when it comes to vegetables.

Ooh, this broccoli quinoa salad is going to make your tastebuds dance with delight. I just know it! 

Maple Lemon Dressingย | cookingwithcassandra.com

Can This Recipe Be Made Ahead?

This quinoa and broccoli salad can be made ahead, which makes it a meal-prep friendly recipe. Covered tightly, it lasts in the fridge for up to 5 days. It can be served cold or warm. These tips will come in handy if you are making quinoa and broccoli salad in advance:

  • Make extra maple lemon dressing in advance and store it in individual portions. This way, your salad will never be without a yummy dressing that is ready to go. 
  • If your salad has dried up in the fridge, add some moisture into the vegetables by just squeezing a bit of lemon juice over it before serving. 
  • Prep your sweet potatoes ahead of time. This is a huge time-saving tip for sweet potatoes. I like to peel and chop the potatoes the night before and store them in the fridge. That way, I can simply pop them in the oven the day Iโ€™m making this salad. 

Recipe Ingredients

For the broccoli salad with quinoa: 

  • Quinoa โ€“ Measure 1 cup of quinoa and rinse well. 
  • Water โ€“ Prepare 2 cups of water for cooking the quinoa. 
  • Sweet potato โ€“ Peel 1 large sweet potato and chop it into ยฝ-inch chunks. 
    • Pro Tip: Sweet potatoes are so nutritious! Theyโ€™re packed with vitamins and are a healthy source of carbs. 
  • Broccoli โ€“ Cut 1 medium head of broccoli into small florets. 
  • Olive oil โ€“ Measure 2 tablespoons of olive oil. It will help the vegetables roast in the oven and get slightly crispy. 
  • Flat-leaf parsley โ€“ Finely chop ยฝ cup of fresh flat-leaf parsley. Of course, regular parsley also works. 
  • Feta cheese โ€“ Crumble feta cheese and measure about 4 tablespoons for topping. 
    • Pro Tip: I always get a block of feta and crumble it myself. It tastes much better this way than the pre-cut ones. I have tried this recipe with goatโ€™s cheese and safe to say, it tastes amazing!
  • Slivered almonds โ€“ Get a packet of sliced almonds and measure about ยผ cup. These will add some crunch to our salad, and you can use them in so many other recipes! 
    • Pro Tip: You may substitute almonds with walnuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds. 
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper โ€“ Sprinkled to taste. 

The sweet and zesty maple lemon dressing calls for the following ingredients. See the next section for all the deets about this dressing! 

  • Lemon โ€“ For lemon zest and freshly squeezed lemon juice. 
  • Extra virgin olive oil โ€“ Measure ยผ cup of extra virgin olive oil. 
  • Maple syrup โ€“ Measure 1 tablespoon of maple syrup. 

How to Prepare the Salad

Step One: Preheat the oven to 425ยฐF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step Two: Chop sweet potatoes into ยฝ-inch bite-sized chunks. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the sweet potato chunks on your prepared baking sheet and season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Set it in the oven to roast for 35 minutes. 

Carrot Slices | cookingwithcassandra.com
Sliced Carrot | cookingwithcassandra.com

Step Three: At the 10-minute mark, remove the pan from the oven and add the broccoli florets. Sprinkle the remaining olive oil, salt, and pepper over the broccoli and toss everything on the pan together. Continue roasting for the remaining 25 minutes.  

broccoli florets with Carrot | cookingwithcassandra.com

Step Four: Cook the quinoa. 

Put the quinoa in a fine-meshed sieve and rinse well under cold running water, swishing the quinoa with your hand. Drain the quinoa well.

Place quinoa and water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover the saucepan and let it cook for 15 minutes (or according to directions on packet). Remove from heat. 

Washย quinoa with water | cookingwithcassandra.com
Quinoa and water | cookingwithcassandra.com
Cooked quinoa Mixture | cookingwithcassandra.com

Step Five: Place a clean tea towel or 3 layers of paper towels over the saucepan. Place the lid back on, and let it sit. The tea towel or paper towel will absorb excess moisture. After five minutes, fluff the quinoa with a fork then turn it into a bowl and allow it to cool. 

Clean tea towel or 3 layers of paper towels over the saucepan | cookingwithcassandra.com
Cooked quinoa | cookingwithcassandra.com

Step Six: Once your veggies are nice and roasted, remove them from the oven and combine them with the quinoa in a large bowl. Chop parsley and crumble feta cheese. Sprinkle slivered almonds. Garnish on the quinoa and vegetable salad. 

Step Seven: Make the maple lemon dressing by mixing all the ingredients in a small bowl. Drizzle the dressing over the quinoa and vegetables and toss to coat.

Cauliflower recipes | cookingwithcassandra.com

Maple Lemon Dressing

There is an 80% chance that the maple lemon dressing on this quinoa sweet potato salad is my new favorite dressing. Itโ€™s citrusy and tastes so bright! (It kind of reminds me of a lemon drop martini.) The acidity is also balanced out perfectly by maple syrup, which is a sugar-free sweetener. 

This maple lemon dressing is absolutely no-frills โ€“ you will be surprised that it is so easy to whip up a salad dressing that you can use in almost anything. 

Step One: Squeeze one lemon and discard any pesky seeds. Grate the zest of the lemon and set aside. 

Step Two: Whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and maple syrup in a small bowl. 

Step Three: Sprinkle the lemon zest into the dressing, and voila! Stir again before pouring over the quinoa salad. 

Can you imagine drizzling this lively dressing over a veggie-packed pasta salad? So good!

Broccoli Quinoa Salad with Sweet Potato | cookingwithcassandra.com
veggie packed pasta saladย | cookingwithcassandra.com

Broccoli and Quinoa Salad Recipe

It doesnโ€™t get healthier than broccoli salad with quinoa โ€“ full of fiber, healthy grains, and nutrient-packed veggies, this salad is lively and delicious!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

Salad

  • 1 cup quinoa rinsed well
  • 2 cups water for cooking the quinoa
  • 1 large sweet potato peeled and chopped into ยฝ inch chunks
  • 1 medium head of broccoli cut into small florets
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup fresh flat leaf parsley finely chopped
  • 4 tablespoons feta cheese crumbled
  • 1/4 cup slivered almonds
  • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper โ€“ to taste

Dressing

  • 1/2 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1 lemon freshly squeezed
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Chop sweet potatoes into ยฝ inch bite size chunks.
  • Toss chopped sweet potato chunks on your prepared baking sheet with 1 tbsp of olive oil to coat and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 35 minutes total. At the 10 minute mark remove the pan from the oven and add broccoli florets. Sprinkle the remaining olive oil, salt and pepper over the broccoli and toss everything on the pan together. Add back to the oven for the remaining 25 minutes.
  • While the sweet potatoes roast, put the quinoa in a fine-meshed sieve and rinse well under cold running water, swishing the quinoa with your hand. Drain the quinoa well.
  • Place quinoa and water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to simmer, cover and let it cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat (Or follow directions on the packet).
  • Place a clean tea towel or 3 layers of paper towel over the saucepan, place the lid back on and let sit for 5 minutes. The tea towel or paper towel will absorb excess moisture. Fluff the quinoa with a fork then turn it into a bowl and allow to cool.
  • Once your veggies are nice and roasted, remove from the oven and combine them with the quinoa.
  • Chop parsley, crumbled feta and add to the quinoa and vegetable mixture.
  • In a small bowl mix your dressing ingredients
  • Toss dressing over quinoa and vegetable mixture.
Cassandra | Cooking With Cassandra

Hi, I’m Cassandra!

ย Iโ€™m so happy youโ€™re here! Iโ€™m here to spill the beans (and maybe some wine) on the best, tested-till-perfect recipes for every occasion. Whether youโ€™re a beginner or a seasoned pro, all of my recipes come with clear, easy-to-follow step-by-step directions, plus helpful tips and tricks to make cooking delicious meals easy for everyone. Letโ€™s get cooking and make every meal a success!

More about me

Featured On

Never miss a recipe!

Sign up for free recipes straight to your inbox:

Unsubscribe at any time.

pink flower

Hello, Spring!

Lemon Bars Recipe

Close-up of a thick lemon bar with a buttery shortbread crust and vibrant lemon filling, dusted with powdered sugar and surrounded by lemon wedges.

Who else LOVES lemon bars?! For me, theyโ€™re one of my all-time favorite dessertsโ€”bright, tangy, buttery perfection. This lemon bars recipe is one Iโ€™ve tested to perfection, made with an easy, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread crust and a smooth lemon filling that strikes just the right balance of sweet and tart. I love a generous bite, which is why I created this recipe in a 9x9-inch pan, giving you that perfect ratio of thick lemon filling to buttery crust. If life gives you lemons, this is the recipe to make. Whether youโ€™re bringing dessert to a spring brunch, prepping for a holiday tray,...

Best Banana Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

Moist banana cake slice topped with cream cheese frosting being lifted from the pan, showing fluffy texture and creamy topping

If youโ€™re looking for a cake thatโ€™s perfectly moist, full of banana flavor, and topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting, this Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is exactly what you need! With its soft texture and sweet, subtle notes of maple syrup, this cake is the perfect balance of comfort and indulgence. Whether you're baking for friends, family, or just yourself, this one will have everyone asking for your recipe! Itโ€™s always a hit at my gatherings. This easy banana cake is made in a 9ร—9-inch pan, keeping things much simpler than a traditional layer cake, making it a go-to...

Asparagus Puff Pastry Bundles

Asparagus Puff Pastry Bundlesย | cookingwithcassandra.com

So, here is my recipe for fresh asparagus with puff pastry, a lovely side dish for any dinner party.  Iโ€™ll be honest: it doesnโ€™t look like much at first, and itโ€™s definitely not as tantalizing as a colorful berry salad. But donโ€™t be fooled, one bite into this asparagus with puff pastry and youโ€™ll be amazed: glazed with honey, oozing with the best cheese mixture, and simply robust asparagus, this is definitely going to be one of the most memorable dishes youโ€™ll ever have.  It is very similar to cheesy asparagus tarts, except this one has already been apportioned and is shaped...

Easy Brown Sugar Glazed Ham

Fully glazed brown sugar ham sliced and served with orange slices and rosemary on a white platter.

Looking for the perfect holiday ham thatโ€™s packed with flavor, easy to make, and guaranteed to impress your guests? This Easy Brown Sugar Glazed Ham recipe is everything you need and more. Itโ€™s sweet, savory, juicy, and has the yummiest sticky glaze with hints of garlic, orange, and warm spices. Whether itโ€™s Christmas, Easter, or a cozy Sunday dinner, this ham will be the star of the table. And yesโ€”it's so much better than the store-bought glaze packets. Once you try this homemade brown sugar glaze, youโ€™ll never go back! And if you're feeling a little intimidated by cooking a whole...

Free E-Cookbook!

Cooking dinner doesnโ€™t have to take all night. Subscribe & receive my favourite 10 Quick & Easy Dinner Recipes in an easy e-cookbook format!

You Might Also Like

Easy Brown Sugar Glazed Ham

Looking for the perfect holiday ham thatโ€™s packed with flavor, easy to make, and guaranteed to impress your guests? This Easy Brown Sugar Glazed Ham...

Easy Brown Sugar Glazed Ham

Best Beef Chili Recipe

Are you on the hunt for the best beef chili recipe? Look no further! This hearty, flavorful chili is my go-to comfort food, and Iโ€™m...

Best Beef Chili Recipe

Lasagna Soup

Thereโ€™s something just so comforting about a big ol’ bowl of lasagna soup. It captures all the rich flavors of traditional lasagnaโ€”savory meat, tangy tomato...

Lasagna Soup

The Best Pasta alla Vodka

Thereโ€™s something about a big bowl of creamy Pasta alla Vodka that just speaks to my soulโ€”especially when the sauce is rich, garlicky, and clings...

The Best Pasta alla Vodka

๎‚š

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @cookingwithcassandra on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingwithcassandra

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

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

Recipe Rating




Cassandra | Cooking With Cassandra

Hi, I'm Cassandra!

ย Iโ€™m so happy youโ€™re here! Iโ€™m here to spill the beans (and maybe some wine) on the best, tested-till-perfect recipes for every occasion. Whether youโ€™re a beginner or a seasoned pro, all of my recipes come with clear, easy-to-follow step-by-step directions, plus helpful tips and tricks to make cooking delicious meals easy for everyone. Letโ€™s get cooking and make every meal a success!

More about me

Never miss a recipe!

Sign up for free recipes straight to your inbox:

Unsubscribe at any time.

Free E-Cookbook!

Cooking dinner doesnโ€™t have to take all night. Subscribe & receive my favourite 10 Quick & Easy Dinner Recipes in an easy e-cookbook format!

Jujeh kabab - Eating | cookingwithcassandra.com

Get the Inside

Scoop

Be the first to receive free e-books, recipes, inspiration, and exclusive extras you wonโ€™t want to miss!

We wonโ€™t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.