We are only a week away from Memorial Day, are you ready? If not, I have something for you today that will surely help! A few of us have teamed up with Celebrations.com to bring you a Virtual Potluck, with a complete Memorial Day menu. Be sure to check out the other great recipes at the end of this post.
I decided to bring a side dish to the party. I wanted something light, but full of flavor, and perfect for this start of summer day. I wasn’t in the mood for a lettuce salad or even a pasta salad. Quinoa sounded like a fun alternative. I have been trying new things with Quinoa lately, and I think this is my favorite so far. It is great hot or cold, so it is perfect for a potluck.
I sauteed zucchini for this, but you could use just about any veggie you like. For more color, and another veggie I also threw in some frozen corn, I thawed it first 
I would have loved some diced avocado in here as well, but I didn’t have any on hand. The lime and cilantro vinaigrette was the perfect thing to tie it all together!
Check out what everyone else brought to the party!
Celebrations – Buffalo Chicken Dip
Une Gamine dans la Cuisines – White Out Cake
Elle’s New England Kitchen – Boneless Pork Ribs with Woodchuck Summer Cider Blueberry Sauce
Smells Like Home - Lemon Cupcakes with Raspberry Curd Filling and Lemon Buttercream
Apron & Sneakers – Speck Skewers with Herb Mayonnaise and Grilled Mediterranean Aubergine Bundles with Provola
Hungry Happenings – Patriotic Biscuits
In Katrina’s Kitchen – Picnic Table Cloth Cookies
- 1 cup Quinoa
- 1¼ cup chicken stock (or water)
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 Tbls cilantro, chopped
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 zucchini, chopped
- 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
- Cook Qunioa according to the package directions. I use chicken stock instead of water to give a little more flavor. Saute or grill zucchini.
- In a small bowl mix together garlic, salt, pepper, lime juice and cilantro. Stir in the olive oil until well combined.
- In a large bowl mix together the cooked quinoa, zucchini, and corn. Pour dressing over quinoa, and stir to coat. Serve immediately or store in fridge.
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It looks great! I have yet to try quinoa- I need to dive in.
This looks delicious and healthy Erin! I love it! I’m keeping it pinned for future recipes to try. Happy to work with you!
Great salad, Erin! I’ve been looking for more uses for quinoa so this looks great and I love the lime-cilantro vinaigrette you used!
Erin, this salad looks Amazing! I’m just starting to use quinoa, so I need recipes.
I absolutely love this–and I never think to use quinoa (which we love!) in cold salads. I need to try doing this for the summer. Cilantro adds so much flavor, too!
I just recently bought some Quinoa and am looking forward to experimenting with it. Your recipe looks delish!
We had quinoa tabouleh for lunch yesterday, with a poached egg on top. It was delicious!
I love the look of this salad, Erin! It’s so colorful, wholesome and healthy. Thanks for sharing. Also, I’m having a ChicWrap giveaway today that you should enter!
You don’t have to try too hard to talk me into a quinoa salad. I have been nearly living on it lately. Will be trying this combo soon! And congrats on pairing with Celebrations…I have read lots of bloggers who have teamed with them!
Erin … You have been nominated for my NEW Food Stories Award for Excellence in Storytelling. Check out my site for the details (foodstoriesblog dot com).
It looks really tasty!
Nice healthy salad for the weekend! I would love avocado too, I may have to try it in this salad.
I’m walking and controlling meal portion to lose some weight but I haven’t shed much weight lately. I need extra push and this sounds like great salad!
Yum! Looks wonderful! I have a new love for quinoa!
Fabulous links my friend and a great salad to the boot no doubt
Thanks for sharing!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
this looks perfect for warm weather and parties…and can’t believe this year is half over already!
What a perfectly hardy and tasty salad! Love quinoa and its versatility. This potluck, albiet virtual, looks like one happening party! Hope you have a wonderful week.
I am so not ready! I actually had no idea it was Memorial Day until I went to the furniture store earlier and they were advertising their holiday sale. I had one of those out of body experiences like, “Really? Oh man, I’m screwed…” I’ve totally forgotten about it this year!
This is gorgeous Erin. Have a great Memorial Day weekend. We are just wrapping up our Canadian holiday weekend. Was nice to have a weekend to chill out.
I love quinoa! I think I’ll celebrate Memorial Day down under and make your salad. It looks delicious!
I’ve recently discovered and falling in looove with quinoa – now I’m always on the look out for new recipes!
Oh I am so going to try this out. I just got a big bag of quinoa from my mother in law and I have been hunting for a salad recipe. This looks yummy!
I’ll add this to my real-life Memorial weekend picnic – and, I agree, it would be double delicious with avocado! Everyone’s potluck contributions sound great
like i said to Rowena, i want to taste all the food at your virtual potluck! i’ve been looking for fresh recipes for quinoa, so thanks for posting this. this one’s going to the files!
That’s funny that we both participated in virtual potlucks yesterday! I love trying different variations of quinoa salads, and this corn and zucchini combo in that vinaigrette sounds so good – perfect for summertime too!
The virtual potluck is a wonderful idea to share a menu with recipes and let everybody contribute and share in the fun just like a real potluck. Your quinoa salad looks like the perfect side dish to go with grilled chicken or steak, I would be very happy to bring or receive this quinoa salad at a party over the holiday weekend!
I’m always looking for new ways to use Quinoa, so I love this!
I love the zucchini in this! I think this sounds so summery and perfect for a pot luck!
Fun round up! Love the recipes and I always am looking for ways to enjoy quinoa
So healthy and delicious…love quinoa!
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