Avocado Quinoa Salad with Spiced Chickpeas

It's been hotter than the Med here in the UK this week and like everyone else, the last place I want to be is in the kitchen. When the weather is this good you want to make the most of it, just in case this might just be our summer! So salads are on the menu every day, but they need to be great salads to keep everyone sustained and satisfied. This avocado quinoa salad is just that, a great salad that is filling, tasty and it's quick and easy to make.

This avocado quinoa salad comes with warmly spiced crispy chickpeas that add a little sweetness to this salad. They are really easy to make but they do make a huge difference so if you make this don't leave them out. I used a generous teaspoon of Ras el hanout spice mix to toss the chickpeas in, this is one of my favourite spice mixes at the moment. It really elevates the sweetness of the chickpeas while making them smokey and warmly spiced. If you can't find it in your grocery store then there is a link in the recipe notes on how to make your own.

I used mixed seed quinoa for this salad but you could use regular quinoa, use whatever you have, this is a flexible salad. Couscous works very well too if you don't fancy quinoa. Giant wholewheat couscous would be my choice if I don't have quinoa in the cupboard. If you do use quinoa make sure you rinse it well under the cold tap before cooking so as to avoid bitter-tasting quinoa. And if you do opt for the giant wholegrain couscous then toast it in a pan before cooking and it will add another toasty layer of flavour to your salad.

The shallot and mustard dressing for this avocado quinoa salad is tangy and rich and really makes this something more than just veg and quinoa. It is really easy to make and you may have some leftover if you do just pour it into a jar with a lid and it will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. It is really good with a nice grilled chicken salad or any salad really. This avocado quinoa salad is accidentally vegan and gluten-free, I generally don't set out to make meals vegan or gluten-free, I'm not vegan nor do I avoid gluten, it's just the way I cook sometimes. I try to use whatever is in the fridge and come up with something that my family will enjoy, and that really was the inspiration for this salad and the majority of all my recipes are the same.

So we have enjoyed this avocado quinoa salad on its own and we have also enjoyed it as a side salad to grilled chicken or grilled fish. I have also enjoyed this salad with some feta crumbled over and sometimes we have some good crusty bread with it, for days when you are really hungry. This salad is great for taking to work for lunch too, it travels very well and would also be great for picnics, just keep the dressing separate in a jar and give it a good shake before adding it.

More fresh and satisfying quinoa dishes:

• Kale and Quinoa Salad
• Roast Butternut Squash with Quinoa, Kale & Feta
• Halloumi Salad with Butternut Squash & Quinoa 
• Quinoa Chickpea Salad

Did you make this Avocado Quinoa Salad recipe? Rate it and leave a comment below to let me know what you think!