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 While I’ve been obsessed with Spring’s fine fruits lately, I can’t neglect the tasty vegetables that this beautiful season also has to offer. Farmers market stalls display a rainbow of colors that are truly inspiring, which is super helpful when you’re feeling a little stumped in the kitchen. All of that wandering between eye-catching vendors led to the creation of this Quinoa Fennel Chickpea Salad.

I often forget how much I like using fennel in recipes, that is until Mary from Nom Yourself and I teamed up to make a bountiful lunch the other day. Aside from piecing together a delicious pesto bowl, we made a simple puff pastry pizza topped with thinly sliced fennel, onion, vegan ricotta, balsamic glaze and basil. What a way to reinvigorate your motivation to cook!

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Lunch done right with @nomyourself❤️. All the Pesto Bowl🍲 with roasted potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, grape tomatoes🍅, olives, avocado, radish and pesto sauce. We may have paired it with a fennel #vegan ricotta pastry pizza.🌱

A post shared by Jackie Sobon (@veganyackattack) on Mar 19, 2016 at 5:30pm PDT

After that, I knew I wanted to put together a spring-y salad that was light, fresh, and still filling. I even made it gluten-free and oil-free! (not that it’s hard to make the veggies and whole foods the star of this recipe) Another plus is that you can find all of these ingredients easily and it takes less than 30 minutes to put together.

I’m a fan of making this salad ahead, then eating it for lunch for a couple of days. It could be easily transported in jars or tupperware for bringing to work!

One year: Creamy Quinoa Jalapeño Poppers // Two years: Apple Fennel Seitan Dogs // Three years: Brunch Beverage Trio // Four years: Baked Spinach Falafel with Homemade Tzatziki

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Quinoa Fennel Chickpea Salad

A refreshing and simple salad featuring fennel, arugula, quinoa, chickpeas and radishes, dressed with herbs and citrus.

Course Salad, Seasonal, starter

Cuisine Gluten-free, oil-free, Plant-based, Vegan, Vegetarian

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 4

Author Jackie of Vegan Yack Attack

Ingredients

Salad

• 1/2 cup uncooked white quinoa rinsed
• 1 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups baby arugula
• 1 1/2 cup thinly sliced fennel bulb I used a mandolin
• 1 cup cooked chickpeas
• 1 cup halved cherry or grape tomatoes
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced radishes
• 1/4 cup chopped green onion
• 2 tablespoons hemp hearts

Dressing

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon minced parsley
• 1/2 tablespoon minced mint leaves
• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1/2 teaspoon agave nectar
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon sea salt or to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. Place quinoa, water, and salt in a small pot or pan, bring to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and cover with lid, simmering for 15-20 minutes, or until quinoa is cooked through and all liquid is absorbed.
2. Fluff quinoa with a wooden spoon or fork and transfer to a bowl, place in refrigerator for 15 minutes.
3. Once quinoa is has cooled, place it in a large salad bowl. Add arugula, fennel, chickpeas, tomatoes, radishes, green onion and hemp hearts to bowl.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together all of the dressing ingredients. Pour dressing over contents of salad bowl and toss until combined. Refrigerate salad until ready to serve!

Quinoa Fennel Chickpea Salad suggestions:

• I highly suggest that you enjoy this salad with a glass of Boozy Mint Strawberry Lemonade! 😉
• If you can find them, use blanched fava beans instead of chickpeas for an extra-Springy dish.