• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Bites of Wellness
  • All Recipes
  • Gluten Free Recipes
  • Dinner Recipes
  • Vegan Recipes
  • Food Budget Tips
Home / Recipes / Salad / Tomato Spinach Quinoa Salad

Tomato Spinach Quinoa Salad

By: Samantha RowlandUpdated: July 8, 2019

Gluten FreeDairy FreeVeganHigh ProteinLow Fat
White bowl filled with spinach tomato quinoa salad

This super simple quinoa salad is the perfect side dish and ready in no time. Packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals protein this healthy side dish can also be made into a full salad just add some more spinach and your favorite protein of choice. Gluten free, lower fat, high protein, and so easy to make!

tomato spinach quinoa salad in a bowl

During the summer, well really all year long, I’m looking for easy to make dinner ideas. Having dishes like this keeps me from having to rely on cereal or granola for dinner. And that my friends is a win. I work about an hour away from my house so when I get home I’m starving and dinner can’t be a huge production. Anyone else feel this way?

Well I solve this problem my making big batches of things like quinoa or brown jasmine rice and chopping up veggies on Sunday night. I also try to make a protein or two like salmon or make Dave some ground turkey burgers or meatballs so that our dinners aren’t so chaotic. To be honest, some weeks I just live off of chickpeas and feta cheese or walnuts in a salad like this. What can I say, I’m always going to be a vegetarian at heart!

This quinoa salad has all the flavors of summer in one bite. Fresh garden tomatoes, basil and fresh spinach complemented by red onion and a tangy white balsamic dressing. Don’t let Homemade dressing scare you. There is seriously nothing easier. You just put all the ingredients Ina jar and shake shake shake. Seriously there is no reason to buy that bottled dressing.

get my 10 greatest recipes ebook by signing up for my newsletterGET 10 OF MY ALL TIME GREATEST RECIPES
IN THIS FREE EBOOK

tomato spinach quinoa salad is a perfect side dish

When I first started focusing on my Health I thought the answer lies in low calorie foods. I was eating these huge salads with fat free dressing and no fat or carbs and wondering why I wasn’t loosing weight. Little did I know that the dressing was not only full of sugar but it was also robbing me of the absorbing the fat soluble vitamins that were in all those salad greens. You see you are really doing yourself a disservice if you choose fat free dressing. Plus there are likely a list of unnecessary chemicals in that bottle as well. you can find some decent dressings in the refrigerated section of your grocery store and a few on the shelves but I urge you to avoid the fat free stuff.

An added benefit of making your own at salad dressing at home is that you can control the fat and flavors in there. For example this recipe only has 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the entire recipe. I like my dressing more acidic so two tablespoons is perfect for me. This salad serves 4 as a side and 2 as a main salad. That’s really not that many extra calories in the big picture. Plus fat makes your skin glow, your hair shiny, and keeps the fat around your cells happy. Why do you care? Well this means your skin cells have adequate fat covering them so they look plump since they can retain moisture in the cell. This means you look less wrinkled. Woohoo for fats!!

Quinoa Salad Recipe Tips

This recipe can be made with quinoa the night you enjoy it. However, it is best with cold or room temperature quinoa. It is easy to make 1 cup of quinoa on Sunday night. 1 cup of quinoa makes 3 cups of cooked quinoa. Why is this a good idea? Well in the same amount of time, you can cook up 3 times more quinoa. And since quinoa reheats much better than rice, it’s easy to add it to salads or use it in quick stir-fries. Quinoa is so versatile, I even like using it in my breakfast! Try this quinoa breakfast bowl or these mocha quinoa energy bites and I think you will agree!

Basil tends to bruise and get become black after exposed to air. It’s best to chop basil at the last minute or put lemon juice or acid (like this vinaigrette) on chopped basil to help it maintain it’s green color.

tomato spinach quinoa salad packed with veggies

★ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!
tomato spinach quinoa salad packed with veggies and quinoa

Tomato Spinach Quinoa Salad

This easy to make tomato spinach quinoa salad is such an simple side dish ready in just minutes. Full of fresh summer ingredients and an easy homemade dressing, there are no more questions about what's for dinner! Gluten free, vegan, simple dinner recipe.
Print Pin Rate
Course: dinner, Lunch, Main, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: salad
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
Servings: 2 -4
Author: Samantha Rowland

Guided Recipe Video

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cooked quinoa - about 1/3 cup dry cooked with 2/3 cup water
  • 1 medium heirloom tomato chopped
  • 1/2 red onion - chopped
  • 2-3 large handfuls spinach - chopped
  • 10-12 leaves basil - chopped

White Balsamic Dressing

  • 2 tbs. olive oil
  • 4-5 tbs. white balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp dried basil
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 2-4 tbs. water
  • pinch salt
  • pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Rinse quinoa. Add quinoa and water to a pot and cook covered over medium heat for 15 minutes or until all the water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork.*
  • While quinoa is cooking, chop tomato, red onion and spinach.
  • Make the dressing
  • *This recipe works best with cold or room temperature quinoa, but can be made with hot quinoa, but spinach might wilt.

White balsamic Dressing

  • In a small jar with a lid, add the olive oil, vinegar, garlic powder, herbs and pinch of salt. Put lid on tightly and shake vigerously for 10-15 seconds. The oil and vinegar should emulsify and become a cohesive dressing. You can also add 1/4 tsp. dijon musttard if you are having trouble getting the oil and vinegar to mix. Taste and add water and pepper.
  • Chop basil right before serving. Add tomato, red onion, spinach and dressing to quinoa. Stir to combine. Serve immediately or within 1-2 hours.

You'll Also Love These Amazing Recipes

  • Italian quinoa salad in a large white bowl with fork in salad.
    Italian Quinoa Salad
  • Two white bowls filled with the breakfast quinoa bowl recipe. Topped with strawberries and cacao nibs.
    Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
  • Margherita Pasta Salad
    Margherita Pasta Salad (Gluten Free)
  • Overhead shot of large white bowl filled with tomato basil salad.
    Tomato Basil Salad (Vegan, Whole30)

Notes

To make this recipe paleo and Whole30 friendly, you can use cauliflower rice in place of the quinoa!

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts
Amount per Serving
Calories
289
Fat
 
15
g
Carbohydrates
 
31
g
Fiber
 
3
g
Sugar
 
8
g
Protein
 
5
g
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database.
DID YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE?Let others know by rating and leaving a comment below!

What about you?

  • What is your favorite side dish?
  • Do you meal prep on the weekend? What do you make?
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Yummly 58
Jump to Recipe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Yummly 58

SHARE THIS POST!

If you liked this post, share it with your friends and family!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Yummly 58
Previous Post: « Pesto Shrimp Flatbread
Next Post: Chocolate Zucchini Muffins (Gluten Free) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Madhvi

    August 26, 2018 at 1:59 pm

    I’m looking to make this but I can’t find white balsamic vinegar anywhere! Can I use regular balsamic vinegar?

    Reply
    • Samantha

      August 26, 2018 at 8:21 pm

      Regular balsamic is fine!

      Reply
  2. Mrs. AOK

    August 9, 2015 at 11:33 am

    OH YUM!! Thanks for sharing with us at Mommy Monday. Pinned :)
    XOXO

    Reply
  3. Lisa

    August 6, 2015 at 12:04 pm

    I love salads with spinach and tomato but I’ll have to try adding quinoa next time! Thanks so much for sharing at Share The Wealth Sunday!
    xoxo
    Lisa

    Reply
  4. Elaine

    August 4, 2015 at 9:18 pm

    Yum! Thanks for Sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday!! Hope to see you again this week!! I Pin everything to My 2 Favorite Things Pinterest Board!

    Reply
  5. Jessica Gonzalez

    August 2, 2015 at 11:36 am

    This sounds like such a great recipe. I especially love how easy and flavorful it looks.

    xoxo
    Jessica

    Reply
  6. Kate

    July 31, 2015 at 9:13 pm

    This is yummy looking! Though I’d actually probably enjoy it warm! One of my favorite side dishes is warm pasta sald, I usually make it with whole grain pasta for a healthier twist.

    Reply
  7. Jess @hellotofit

    July 31, 2015 at 5:51 pm

    This sounds silly, but I always forget that I can eat quinoa cold, in a salad…oops! This recipe looks AMAZING.
    Ah, yes – the low-cal/fat-free food trap. They should add (high-in-sugar!) hehe.

    Reply
  8. Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner

    July 31, 2015 at 2:29 pm

    ooh yum I love quinoa salads like this! Agree no fat is not helpful and just leads to overeating in my opinion.

    Reply
  9. Renee

    July 31, 2015 at 8:34 am

    Looks great Sam!

    Reply
  10. Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health

    July 31, 2015 at 12:42 am

    Having salads like this ready to go in the fridge make healthy eating easy and delicious! I love that dressing too. White balsamic is so good!

    Reply
  11. Cara's Healthy Cravings

    July 30, 2015 at 5:59 pm

    Salads like this are my fav anytime of the year! I also love making a big batch so that it lasts for lunches…mmmmm!

    Reply
  12. Megan

    July 30, 2015 at 2:14 pm

    Yes to salads and quinoa and tomatoes and everything else in this! I totall agree that low-cal dressings aren’t the way to go.. plus that dressing sounds so much better!

    Reply
  13. Dani @ DaniCaliforniaCooks

    July 30, 2015 at 1:16 pm

    So fresh and delicious! I love that it is heavy on the veggies.

    Reply
  14. Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy

    July 30, 2015 at 9:24 am

    A great quick salad! I made something similar the other day, and I added some watermelon to it.

    Reply
  15. Heather@hungryforbalance

    July 30, 2015 at 8:36 am

    I love quinoa salads and this variation sounds delicious. Garden fresh heirloom tomatoes are the BEST this time of year.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Recipes By Course

Breakfast Lunch Dinner Dessert Sides Snacks Soup Salad All Recipes

Recipes By Diet

    Gluten FreeDairy FreeVeganWhole30PaleoKetoHigh ProteinLow CarbVegetarianQuickLow Fat

Sam at Bites of Wellness

Hi, I’m Samantha. A personal trainer and nutrition coach. I’m here to help you get a healthy meal on the table in under 30 minutes.
Learn More About Me →

Whole30 Recipe Favorites

Bowl filled with cauliflower rice and bang bang shrimp, chopsticks on side.
$10.94 Recipe/$2.73 Serving

Bang Bang Shrimp (Whole30, Keto)

Air fryer carrots in the basket of the air fryer.
$1.40 Recipe/$0.35 Serving

Air Fryer Carrot Fries

Spoon in a jar of cilantro chimichurri sauce.
$4.07 Recipe/$0.51 Serving

Cilantro Chimichurri Sauce (Whole30, Vegan)

Cast iron skillet filled with sun dried tomato shrimp.
$11.48 Recipe/$2.87 Serving

Sun Dried Tomato Shrimp (Whole30 + Keto)

Wooden scoop in a bowl of whole30 taco seasoning
$1.45 Recipe/$0.36 Serving

Whole30 Taco Seasoning (low FODMAP)

Air fryer basket full of delicata squash fries.
$1.16 Recipe/$0.58 Serving

Air Fryer Delicata Squash

Most Popular Recipes

Overhead shot of bowl of best ever mushroom soup with a wooden handled spoon in the bowl on the left side of the bowl. Fresh mushrooms and thyme leaves surround the bowl and there is a grey striped napkin to the left of the bowl

Best Ever Mushroom Soup

Spoon full of broccoli cheese soup over a bowl.

Vegan Broccoli Cheese Soup

White Bean Mushroom Soup in a green and orange bowl with creamy mushrooms on the top, a red and orange napkin and a golden spoon next to the bowl

Best Ever White Bean Mushroom Soup

Bowl of protein puppy chow with a silver spoon scooping some out of the bowl.

Protein Puppy Chow (Gluten Free, Vegan)

Bowl of baked balsamic tofu with a spoon of Italian seasoning below.

Balsamic Tofu

Protein hot chocolate topped with whipped cream in a white mug.

Simple Healthy Protein Hot Chocolate (Dairy-Free)

Footer

Featured On

Bites of Wellness has been featured on countryliving.Bites of Wellness has been featured on buzzfeed.Bites of Wellness has been featured on women's health.Bites of Wellness has been featured on Boston Magazine.Bites of Wellness has been featured on Well and Good.Bites of Wellness has been featured on SHAPE.Bites of Wellness has been featured on PureWow.Bites of Wellness has been featured on PARADE.Bites of Wellness has been featured on Huffington Post.Bites of Wellness has been featured on Greatist.Bites of Wellness has been featured on Eat This Not That.

Recipes by Diet

  • Gluten Free
  • Dairy Free
  • Vegan
  • Paleo
  • Whole30
  • Keto
  • High Protein
  • Low Carb
  • Low Fat

Recipes by Course

  • Dinner
  • Breakfast
  • Side Dish
  • Dessert
  • Snacks
  • Salad
  • Quick

Free Resources

  • Free Recipe Resources
  • Kitchen Essentials

Contact & Privacy

  • Work With Me
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Follow Me On Social!

© Copyright 2021 Bites of Wellness