Beautiful roasted carrot cauliflower quinoa salad tossed with fresh herbs, sweet Medjool dates and salty pistachios. This vegan cauliflower quinoa salad is lightly dressed with a bright sunshine dressing for the perfect plant-based lunch or side dish!
I like to call this salad sunshine in a bowl. Or on a platter. Because however you serve this carrot cauliflower quinoa salad, it’s everything you could want: bright, refreshing, flavorful, bold, cozy and nutritious! Tons of veggies, fresh herbs, crunch and flavor, too.
I’ve been trying my best to bring you more plant based recipes to celebrate seasonal produce and this hearty salad is perfect for winter and spring when you want something in between cozy and refreshing. The carrots and cauliflower are roasted to tender perfection in a blend of spices, then tossed with more herbs, veggies, a hint of sweetness from dates, crunch from pistachios and of course: the sunshine dressing. You’re going to love it!
roasted cauliflower quinoa salad on a platter
Everything you’ll need to make this cauliflower quinoa salad
This beautiful, vegan cauliflower quinoa salad recipe is packed with flavorful roasted veggies, fluffy quinoa and delicious salad mix-ins. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
For the veggies: we’re roasting up carrots and cauliflower with cumin, turmeric, garlic powder, a little cayenne if you like heat (I recommend!), salt & pepper.
For the quinoa: you’ll just need some dry quinoa and water to cook it up. Feel free to use white quinoa or tri-color.
For the mix-ins: toss this salad together with fresh green onion, cilantro, parsley, chopped Medjool dates, roasted & salted pistachios and some peas.
For the sunshine dressing: grab the recipe for this gorgeous sunshine dressing here! It’s made with tahini, lemon juice, a little maple syrup, fresh ginger, turmeric, garlic powder, salt & pepper.
roasted carrots and cauliflower on a baking sheet
Make this roasted cauliflower salad your own
This cauliflower quinoa salad is great for customizing! Here are some delicious ways to mix it up:
Swap your produce. This salad would also be delicious with roasted sweet potato or butternut squash instead of carrots.
Try a different sweetener. Instead of dates feel free to mix in some golden or regular raisins, dried cranberries or dried cherries.
Use a new nut. Roasted salted almonds or cashews would also be delicious in place of the pistachios. Or omit them to keep the recipe nut free!
Try another dressing. The sunshine dressing is absolutely delicious, but this salad would also be great with a plain tahini dressing, a jalapeño green tahini dressing or a curry tahini dressing!
quinoa tossed with green onion & peas in a bowl for a cauliflower quinoa salad
Add a boost of protein
Looking to add some more protein to this roasted carrot quinoa salad? Here are some great options:
A can of chickpeas
Chopped chicken or pair it with my easy roasted chicken recipe
Shrimp or salmon — try it with my lemon garlic salmon or maple glazed salmon
How to make this roasted cauliflower quinoa salad
Roast your veggies. You’ll start by roasting the carrots and cauliflower in all of those cozy spices.
Cook your quinoa. While the veggies are roasting, cook your quinoa. See tips below for making the best fluffy quinoa!
Combine the toppings. Once the quinoa is done, add it to a bowl with all of those yummy mix-ins, veggies and herbs.
Make the dressing. Mix together the sunshine dressing in a medium bowl.
Toss & serve. Pour the sunshine dressing over the salad, toss and serve as a main meal or a side dish!
vegan roasted cauliflower and quinoa salad with carrots on a plate
How to cook the perfect fluffy quinoa
Use a 1:2 ratio for quinoa to liquid. In this recipe you’ll cook 3/4 cup quinoa in 1 2/3 cups water. I like to add a tiny bit more water to ensure the quinoa is super fluffy after you’re done cooking and it continues to steam in the pot.
Add in quinoa and water to a medium pot and bring mixture to a boil, then cover, reduce heat to low and cook for exactly 15 minutes.
After 15 minutes, remove from heat and fluff quinoa with a fork.
Finally, replace lid and allow quinoa to steam for 10 more minutes.
roasted cauliflower salad with quinoa and carrots on a plate
Storing tips
Keep this vegan cauliflower quinoa salad in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3-4 days.
This salad can easily be made the day before, too, and will be delicious served the next day!
Roasted Carrot Cauliflower Quinoa Salad with Sunshine Dressing
Beautiful roasted carrot cauliflower quinoa salad tossed with fresh herbs, sweet Medjool dates and salty pistachios. This vegan cauliflower quinoa salad is lightly dressed with a bright sunshine dressing for the perfect plant-based lunch or side dish!
Ingredients
For the veggies:
4 medium carrots (or 3 large), cut in half lengthwise and then cut into 2 inch segments/chunks
2 cups small to medium cauliflower florets
1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, if you like a little heat
Freshly ground salt and pepper
For the quinoa:
¾ cup quinoa
1 ⅔ cups water
For the salad mix-ins:
1/4 cup diced green onion
⅓ cup cilantro
1/4 cup flat leaf parsley
⅓ cup chopped pitted Medjool dates (or sub dried cherries)
1/3 cup shelled roasted and salted pistachios (or sub roasted almonds)
¾ cup thawed frozen peas, optional
For the dressing:
Sunshine Dressing Recipe
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large pan with parchment paper and add carrots and cauliflower; drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with cumin, turmeric, garlic powder, cayenne and salt and pepper. Toss well to combine and coat the veggies with the oil and spices. Roast for 25-30 minutes or until carrots and cauliflower are tender and golden; flip veggies halfway through to ensure even roasting.
While the veggies are roasting, you can cook your quinoa: add in quinoa and water to a medium pot and bring mixture to a boil, then cover, reduce heat to low and cook for exactly 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove from heat and fluff quinoa with a fork, then replace the lid and allow quinoa to steam for 5-10 more minutes.
Once quinoa is done cooking, add to a large bowl, then add in the roasted carrots and cauliflower, green onion, cilantro, parsley, chopped dates, pistachios and peas.
Make the sunshine dressing: in a medium bowl, mix together the tahini, lemon juice, maple syrup, ginger, turmeric, garlic powder and salt and pepper. Add 2-3 tablespoons of warm water to thin out the dressing so that it’s nice and pourable. Taste and add more salt and pepper if necessary.
Pour dressing over the salad and mix well to combine. Serves 4 as a main meal, 6 as a side.
Recipe Notes
To store: keep this vegan cauliflower quinoa salad in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3-4 days.
This salad can easily be made the day before, too, and will be delicious served the next day!
