Rainbow Salad Bowl (Printable)

Vibrant bowl with fresh vegetables, quinoa, beans, and nuts tossed in zesty lemon dressing

# What You Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup cooked quinoa or brown rice, cooled

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 cup shredded purple cabbage
04 - 1 cup grated carrots
05 - 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
06 - 1 cup baby spinach leaves
07 - 1 small cucumber, sliced

→ Beans

08 - 1 cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
09 - 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed

→ Nuts and Seeds

10 - 1/3 cup roasted cashews or almonds, chopped
11 - 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
12 - 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds

→ Dressing

13 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
15 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
16 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
17 - 1 garlic clove, minced
18 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Garnish

19 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or cilantro

# How-To Steps:

01 - Prepare grains according to package instructions and allow to cool completely before assembly.
02 - Combine all prepared vegetables, cooled grains, beans, nuts, and seeds in a large salad bowl or on a platter, arranging in colorful sections for visual appeal.
03 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until fully emulsified.
04 - Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad just before serving, then gently toss to combine or serve dressing on the side for individual preference.
05 - Top with chopped fresh parsley or cilantro and serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It's endlessly flexible, so you can use whatever vegetables are calling to you from the market without guilt.
  • The combination of grains, beans, nuts, and seeds means you're building a complete meal that actually keeps you full.
  • There's something deeply satisfying about arranging it all on a board or platter, almost like edible art.
02 -
  • Don't toss everything together hours ahead, the vegetables will release water and drown everything in liquid sadness by dinner time.
  • The dressing is potent, so start with a light drizzle and let people add more if they wish rather than overcommitting.
03 -
  • Make your dressing in a mason jar and shake it vigorously, which emulsifies it better than whisking and means you can store it for three days without separation.
  • Toast your own nuts and seeds in a dry skillet for two minutes, which amplifies their flavor so the salad tastes richer without adding extra oil.
Go Back