• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Parsley and Icing
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Resources
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Recipes
×

Home

Rose Water Quinoa Salad

Published: Jun 25, 2019 · Modified: Mar 4, 2020 by Natalie · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

10 shares
  • Share
  • Email
  • Twitter
Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
a close up of a big bowl filled with quinoa salad with fresh vegetables and raisins

I tried this amazing rose water quinoa salad at a party recently and could not stop eating it! I loved the plump, juicy raisins and the fresh taste of the vegetables. With every bite, I found myself trying to figure out what *that* ingredient was that made it taste so special. After taking a few guesses, the “secret ingredient” was finally revealed: rose water! I’d had desserts with rose water before but never had it in quinoa salad until now.

THE RECIPE

When I asked for the recipe, our family friend who had made the salad told me that the salad was just something she throws together without a recipe. She told me the “little bit of this, some that” version which was enough to help me figure out the recipe in my kitchen! It took a few attempts, but I was finally able to recreate the taste I remembered.

a freshly made lemon olive oil vinaigrette being poured into a bowl of chopped vegetables and raisins

LEMON-OLIVE OIL DRESSING

To start making this unique salad, start by whisking together my easy, four ingredient lemon-olive oil vinaigrette. The four ingredients are:

  • lemon
  • olive oil
  • salt
  • pepper

I add the rose water at the end of the recipe, but it technically is part of the dressing. I don’t think I’d had anything with rose water and olive oil together before. It’s so nice!

QUINOA

After I have my dressing prepared, I cook the quinoa. I cook the quinoa in water, but if you want to add extra flavor, you can cook it in vegetable or chicken broth. After rinsing the quinoa, add it to boiling water or broth. Reduce heat and cook for about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and cover. After five minutes, grab a fork to fluff the quinoa and it should be all set.

FRESH VEGETABLES

In addition to the taste of the rose water, it’s all the fresh, finely chopped veggies that make this salad delicious. As you can tell from the pictures, all the vegetables are chopped into small pieces. This ensures that every bite ends up with bits of chopped onion, garlic, red and green pepper, and parsley!

a large bowl with chopped fresh vegetables being mixed with a lemon olive oil vinaigrette

Once all your vegetables are chopped, add the raisins, dressing and rose water. Finally, add the quinoa and mix well! You can serve it right away and cold or at room temperature. I prefer to let it sit in the fridge for at least an hour to allow the flavors to come together!

a close up of quinoa with bits of chopped red and green peppers and raisins

I have tried some really good quinoa salad recipes before, but have honestly never had one so packed with so many veggies or flavor as this incredibly flavorful quinoa salad! Whether you serve it alongside meat or a vegetarian option such as my Grilled or Fried Halloumi Cheese , you’ll love the bites full of veggies and amazing flavor!

an overview photo of quinoa with finely chopped, colorful vegetables and raisins

ROSE WATER

Rose water is a common ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine (most often used in desserts).  It’s made by distilling fresh rose petals with water. If you haven’t tasted or made anything with it yet, I highly recommend it! It adds an exotic scent and a special, lovely taste to food. It’s pretty potent, so as good as it smells and tastes, use it sparingly!

You can find rose water in Middle Eastern stores. I’ve also been seeing it more in the international foods aisle of many grocery stores.

two photos of bottles of orange flower water and rose water

For more fresh, flavorful salads check out my Cranberry Feta Salad and this delicious Fresh Tomato, Pepper, and Onion Salad with Mint!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
a big bowl filled with a colorful quinoa salad

Rose Water Quinoa Salad

  • Author: Natalie
  • Prep Time: 20 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 20
  • Total Time: 40 Minutes
  • Yield: 4-6 servings
  • Category: Salads
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

Make this Rose Water Quinoa Salad recipe for a healthy, easy vegetarian dish full fresh veggies, lemon, olive oil and a hint of rose water! 


Ingredients

Units
  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 1/2 green bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup chopped parsley
  • 1/2 cup raisins (any type of raisin works)
  • 2 1/2 tsp rose water

For the dressing:

  • 4 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Whisk the ingredients for the dressing together and set aside.
  2. Rinse the quinoa then place it in a saucepan with the water and 1/4 tsp salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and cook 15 minutes or until all the water has been absorbed. Remove from heat and cover. After five minutes, fluff quinoa and set aside.
  3. To a large bowl, add the onion, red and green peppers, parsley, raisins and garlic. Add the dressing and mix well. To this, stir in 2 1/2 tsp rose water. Pour the quinoa into the vegetable mixture and mix very well. Cover and refrigerate at least one hour. 
  4. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Notes

The salad can be made in about 40 minutes, but I prefer to refrigerate it for at least an hour before serving, allowing the quinoa time to absorb all the flavors! 

Keywords: Rose Water, Quinoa, Salad, healthy, raisins, vegetables

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @ParsleyandIcing on Instagram and hashtag it #parsleyandicing

10 shares
  • Share
  • Email
  • Twitter

About Natalie

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Healthy Red and Green Cabbage Slaw with Raisins and Apples - Parsley and Icing says:
    July 18, 2019 at 8:39 pm

    […] Rose Water Quinoa Salad […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆
Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

HI THERE!

I’m Natalie, the baker and photographer here at Parsley and Icing! Here you will find a collection of delicious and decadent dessert recipes made with fresh, from scratch ingredients! More About Natalie and Parsley and Icing

 

Valentine’s Day Recipes

Frosted Sugar Cookies

Lemon Rose Water Cookies

Mini Hot Chocolate Cheesecakes

Strawberry Filled Cupcakes

Flourless Chocolate Olive Oil Cake

A cupcake with a heart baked inside.

Heart Cupcakes

Subscribe Now

Get Notified of New Recipes From Parsley and Icing!

Categories

POPULAR RECIPES

Strawberry Basil Cake

Lemon Rosemary Olive Oil Cake

Peanut Butter Marshmallow Cookies

Blueberry Blondies

Funfetti cookies filled with sprinkles and chocolate chips.

Birthday Cake Cookies

A small white bowl with brownie batter and chocolate chips in it.

Edible Brownie Batter

Footer

  • About
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 Parsley and Icing on the Foodie Pro Theme