• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
BetterFoodGuru
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers and Dips
    • Breakfast
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Salads
    • Soups & Stews
    • Dessert
    • 30 Minutes or Less
  • Essential Links
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • About
  • Links
  • Privacy Policy
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Easy Asparagus and Quinoa Salad

    March 12, 2025 by Sara Tercero

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This vibrant asparagus and quinoa salad is the perfect spring salad. Roasted asparagus is served with fluffy red quinoa, kalamata olives, creamy white beans, and lots of fresh veggies, all tossed a simple lemon vinaigrette. The bright, lemony flavors get even better the next day as the dressing infuses into the quinoa and veggies, making it perfect for meal prep or a make-ahead meal for a busy night. It's light yet surprisingly hearty, and will leave you feeling satisfied without weighing you down.

    serving bowl of quinoa and asparagus salad with fresh veggies on a table with crumpled table cloth along with an individual serving of the same salad. Wooden salad tongs are to the right of the salad bowl.

    Why you’ll love this Asparagus Quinoa Salad Recipe

    • Super simple recipe with lots of crunch and flavor
    • As a cold salad, it can easily be made ahead of time and held until needed
    • A beautiful way to highlight your favorite spring veggies
    • Can be served as a complete meal or a fun seasonal side dish
    • Heartier than regular salads thanks to the beans and quinoa but still light
    • Sweet and tangy maple Dijon lemon vinaigrette you'll want to eat with a spoon
    closeup of a wooden salad bowl with a vegan quinoa asparagus salad containing cucumbers, tomatoes, red quinoa, roasted asparagus and other veggies with a lemon wedge.

    Ingredients for Quinoa Asparagus Salad

    This is a very simple recipe that uses mostly pantry staples plus a few fresh ingredients. I highly recommend using the freshest veggies you can find. This is a great recipe to showcase seasonal produce from the farmers market or your own garden. 

    For the Lemon Dressing:

    • Olive oil - Add a drizzle of olive oil for healthy fats and to help bring the vinaigrette together.
    • Dijon mustard - To help emulsify the dressing and add a cleansing sharpness.
    • Maple syrup - For just enough sweetness to balance out the lemon.
    • Lemon juice - There's nothing better than fresh lemon juice in your homemade vinaigrettes. It's perfect for bringing out the natural flavor of the asparagus. Feel free to add the lemon zest, too, for an even brighter flavor.
    • Salt - To enhance flavor and balance the acidity.

    For the Salad:

    • Asparagus - Get the freshest bunch of asparagus you can find, ideally with similar sized spears for roasting. Toss with salt, black pepper, and a little oil before roasting.
    • Red quinoa - I love using red quinoa for this recipe to get some extra color, but you can use whichever type you prefer. Be sure to learn my tricks about cooking fluffy quinoa every time.
    • Red cabbage - Shredded to use as a crunchy base for the salad.
    • Tomatoes
    • Cucumbers
    • Cannellini beans - These white beans are naturally tender and creamy, perfect for adding some extra protein and flavor. 
    • Pitted kalamata olives - For a briny, salty flavor to balance the lemon dressing and tender roasted asparagus.
    closeup of a wood salad bowl with a vegan asparagus quinoa salad containing cucumbers, tomatoes, red quinoa, asparagus and other veggies with a lemon wedge.

    How to Make Vegan Asparagus Quinoa Salad

    This is a very simple recipe to make. Roast the asparagus while the quinoa cooks, whisk together the dressing, and assemble the cold ingredients. Add everything together, then serve!

    • Preheat oven to 400.
    • Cook quinoa according to the box. Once cooked, spread out on a sheet pan to cool quickly while preparing other ingredients.
    • Pop asparagus onto another sheet pan, toss with oil, salt and pepper and bake for 10-12 minutes. Fatter asparagus will need up to 20 minutes until tender. Let cool then chop in thirds.
    • To make the dressing add olive oil, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, lemon juice and salt to a blender. Puree until smooth.
    • In a large bowl add shredded cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, cooled quinoa, cooled asparagus, cannellini beans, and olives. Pour dressing and toss well. 
    • Serve and enjoy!

    Storing Suggestions

    Store the cold salad in an airtight container in the fridge and eat within 3 days.

    Tips for Making the Best Asparagus Quinoa Salad

    • Be patient. You want to let the quinoa cool to room temperature before you add it to the salad, and you also want to let the salad sit for a bit before you eat it. This lets the flavors mingle together and allow the salad to really shine as a complete dish.
    • Garnish well. For extra flavor, feel free to add some vegan feta cheese, fresh chives, green onions, or some fresh parsley.
    • Save this recipe for green bean season. Asparagus season is notoriously short, and this recipe works just as well with roasted green beans. You can make it all summer with garden green beans, tomatoes, and cucumbers, too!
    closeup of a wood salad bowl with salad containing a vegan quinoa asparagus salad with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, quinoa, asparagus and other veggies with a lemon wedge.

    FAQs

    Do you have to use red quinoa?

    Feel free to use whichever type of quinoa you prefer. Red quinoa has a heartier texture and nuttier flavor, which I prefer for this recipe. Plus, the red color may offer some extra antioxidants compared to white quinoa. 

    Can you eat asparagus raw in salad?

    Technically yes, but roasted asparagus is a little more tender and easier to eat. Especially in a cold salad like this, I think you'll prefer having the asparagus roasted instead of serving it raw.

    How do you cook asparagus for salad?

    The easiest method is to roast the asparagus on a sheet pan in the oven, which helps concentrate the flavor and make the asparagus nice and tender. You can also blanch asparagus in boiling water and transfer it to an ice bath, but this is a little fussier and the asparagus doesn't seem to absorb the flavors from the dressing quite as well.

    More Vegan Quinoa Salad Recipes

    • Easy Kale and Quinoa Salad
    • Southwest Quinoa & Bean Salad
    • Tropical Kale and Quinoa Salad
    • Quinoa and Lentil Tabbouleh Salad
    • Mandarin Orange and Kale Salad
    logo for better food guru vegan food blog.

    Love this recipe? Drop a comment below to share your experience with others!

    Craving more? Explore all of my free ebooks or come hang out with over 1 million other plant-based foodies on Instagram!



    closeup of a wood salad bowl with salad containing cucumbers, tomatoes, quinoa, asparagus and other veggies with a lemon wedge.

    Asparagus and Quinoa Salad

    This vibrant asparagus and quinoa salad is the perfect spring salad with roasted asparagus served with fluffy red quinoa, kalamata olives, creamy white beans, and lots of fresh veggies, all tossed a simple lemon vinaigrette. The bright, lemony flavors taste even better the next day as the dressing infuses into the quinoa and veggies, making it perfect for meal prep or a make-ahead meal for a busy night. It's light yet surprisingly hearty, and will fill you up without weighing you down.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Cook Time 40 minutes mins
    Servings 5
    Calories 429 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    For Dressing:

    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
    • 1 tbsp maple syrup
    • 1 lemon juiced
    • ¼ tsp salt

    For Asparagus:

    • 1 bunch asparagus
    • Pinch salt
    • Few sprays oil
    • Fresh ground Black pepper

    For Salad:

    • 8 oz box red quinoa cooked and cooled
    • 3 cups red cabbage chopped
    • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
    • 3 cucumbers chopped
    • 15 oz canned cannellini beans drained
    • 10 pitted kalamata olives sliced

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 400.
    • Cook quinoa according to the box. Once cooked, spread out on a sheet pan to cool quickly while preparing other ingredients.
    • Pop asparagus onto a sheet pan, toss with oil, salt and pepper and bake for 10-12 minutes. Fatter asparagus will need up to 20 minutes until tender. Let cool then chop in thirds.
    • To make the dressing add olive oil, dijon mustard, maple syrup, lemon juice and salt to a blender.
    • Puree until smooth.
    • In a large bowl add shredded cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, cooled quinoa, cooled asparagus, cannellini beans, and olives.
    • Pour dressing and toss well.
    • Eat within 3 days for best quality.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 429kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 15gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 303mgPotassium: 1111mgFiber: 10gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 936IUVitamin C: 46mgCalcium: 148mgIron: 6mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    « Springtime Veggie Pesto Pasta (Vegan)
    Vegan Nacho Salad »

    Primary Sidebar

    About BetterFoodGuru

    image Sara Tercero

    Hi, I am Sara Tercero, the Chef behind BetterFoodGuru. It is my mission to prove that plants are delicious and to help others cook and eat their way to health and happiness. My recipes are inspired by global flavors and my love for eating the rainbow. Reach out on social media or leave a review with feedback!

    Categories

    Check Out These Recipes

    collage image of different cold vegan salad recipes that reads "no cook salads" with images of strawberry feta salad, watermelon salad, cucumber salad, street corn slaw, and more.

    Beat the Heat: 25 No Cook Salads for Easy Summer Meals

    collage image of cooling vegan summer salads like cucumber salads, fruit salsa, tomato salad, and more.

    27 Refreshing Vegan Summer Salads to Keep You Cool

    collage image of different vegan bbq salads like pasta salad, potato salad, kale salad, slaws, and more, all to take to summer BBQs.

    25+ Summery Vegan Salads to Bring to Your Next BBQ

    Copyright © 2025 Better Food Guru | Privacy Policy

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience

    Advertising.


    This Site is affiliated with CMI Marketing, Inc., d/b/a Raptive (“Raptive”) for the purposes of placing advertising on the Site, and Raptive will collect and use certain data for advertising purposes. To learn more about Raptive’s data usage, click here: https://raptive.com/creator-advertising-privacy-statement/

     
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT