Fresh and healthy asparagus is paired with quinoa and a tangy lemon mustard vinaigrette dressing. This asparagus quinoa salad is a wonderful side dish for spring and summer.



It’s spring!! We made it! We made it through February. And now we are getting close to spring, and warmer temperatures, and NO SNOW. (I hope).

With the change of seasons, it’s time for some seasonal recipes. I love seeing all the asparagus in the grocery store. It’s one of my favorite vegetables.

We love asparagus roasted in the oven – it’s probably the easiest way to enjoy it. With a drizzle of olive oil, some salt, and pepper, asparagus becomes wonderfully flavorful after just a short while in the oven. I used thin asparagus for this recipe – I find that it’s the most tender. But if you have the thicker variety, that will work – just cook it for a little longer.

One of my favorite ways to roast asparagus is with some nutritional yeast. This vegan cheesy roasted asparagus has made an appearance on our menu a few times already this month.

But today, I want to share this simple, fresh tasting dish – asparagus and quinoa dressed with lemon mustard vinaigrette.

I love to make this asparagus quinoa salad for a quick and healthy lunch, but it’s also really nice for a side dish at dinner time. You can serve this alongside roasted chicken or fish for a light but filling meal. This is also a very fast meal to prepare. You put the quinoa on the stove, and quickly cook the asparagus in the oven and make the dressing while the asparagus cooks. Once everything is done, just toss it all together and that’s it! Very easy.

How long should you roast asparagus in the oven?

Depending on the thickness of the asparagus, you will want to roast it at 400 degrees for 6-12 minutes. Very thin stalks will take just a few minutes to become crisp-tender. If you want your asparagus more well done, leave it in longer.

What can be used in place of mustard in this dressing?

If you are allergic to mustard, you can leave it out and just add a little more lemon juice. The dressing will still be delicious!

What can be used instead of quinoa?

I chose quinoa because it is a gluten free grain that has some protein, but you could easily serve this roasted asparagus over rice or even gluten free pasta. It would also be delicious served with spiralized vegetables.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

5 from 1 vote Print Quinoa and Asparagus with Lemon Mustard Vinaigrette. Quinoa and asparagus is dressed with a flavorful lemon mustard vinaigrette for a delicious spring lunch. Prep Time 5 minutes Cook Time 20 minutes Total Time 25 minutes Servings 4 Calories 354 kcal Author Kelly Roenicke Ingredients 1 cup quinoa

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 small onion chopped

2 garlic cloves sliced

1 bunch asparagus

1/2 Tablespoon olive oil For the Dressing: 2 Tablespoons lemon juice

1/4 cup olive oil

2 cloves garlic crushed

1 Tablespoon yellow mustard Leave this out if you are allergic to mustard

1 Tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper US Customary - Metric Instructions Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Put the quinoa, the sliced garlic, chopped onion, olive oil, and two cups of water in a medium sized pot. Bring the quinoa to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover. Cook for 15 minutes until the quinoa is fluffy and the little ring around the quinoa has loosened. While the quinoa is cooking, prepare the asparagus. Rinse the asparagus and remove the tough ends. Place the asparagus on a parchment lined cookie sheet, and chop each stalk into three pieces. Drizzle the asparagus with a little bit of olive oil, and sprinkle with salt. Bake the asparagus at 400 degrees for 6-8 minutes, until bright green and crisp tender. While the asparagus cooks, prepare the dressing: combine the lemon juice, olive oil, mustard, sugar, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small jar with a lid. Shake will to mix thoroughly. Place the quinoa and asparagus in a bowl and drizzle with the dressing. Toss to coat. Serve immediately. Recipe Notes Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Nutrition Facts Quinoa and Asparagus with Lemon Mustard Vinaigrette. Amount Per Serving Calories 354 Calories from Fat 171 % Daily Value* Fat 19g 29% Saturated Fat 2g 13% Sodium 630mg 27% Potassium 506mg 14% Carbohydrates 38g 13% Fiber 5g 21% Sugar 6g 7% Protein 9g 18% Vitamin A 850IU 17% Vitamin C 12.2mg 15% Calcium 59mg 6% Iron 4.5mg 25% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This asparagus quinoa salad is:

perfect for a light lunch or dinner

gluten free and vegan

a great way to enjoy spring produce

Have you seen any signs of spring where you are? What’s your favorite way to eat asparagus?

This post was originally published in March 2015. It has been updated.