Marco Polo Salad
Elevate your salad game with the vibrant and nutritious Marco Polo Salad, a perfect fusion of wholesome ingredients and bold Asian-inspired flavors. This colorful dish features tender baby spinach, protein-packed quinoa, sweet shredded carrots, juicy cherry tomatoes, and hearty edamame, all brought to life with the crunch of toasted almonds and the tangy sweetness of dried cranberries. Tossed in a flavorful sesame-ginger dressing made with sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and a touch of honey, this salad is a delightful balance of savory, sweet, and nutty notes. Finished with fresh cilantro and a sprinkle of black sesame seeds, this recipe is ready in just 25 minutes and is perfect as a quick main course, a side for grilled proteins, or a meal prep favorite. Packed with texture and nutrition, the Marco Polo Salad is your go-to for a refreshing twist on healthy eating!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 4 cups Baby spinach leaves
- 1 cup Cooked quinoa
- 1 cup Shredded carrots
- 1 cup Cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup Edamame (shelled, cooked)
- 0.5 cup Toasted slivered almonds
- 0.5 cup Dried cranberries
- 0.25 cup Chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 tablespoons Sesame oil
- 1.5 tablespoons Rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Honey
- 1 teaspoon Freshly grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon Black sesame seeds
- 0.25 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Ground black pepper
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, combine the baby spinach leaves, cooked quinoa, shredded carrots, cherry tomatoes, edamame, toasted slivered almonds, dried cranberries, and chopped fresh cilantro.
In a small bowl, whisk together the sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, grated ginger, black sesame seeds, salt, and ground black pepper to create the dressing.
Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients in the large bowl and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt or pepper if needed.
Divide the salad into individual serving plates or bowls.
Garnish with additional cilantro and a sprinkle of black sesame seeds if desired.
Serve immediately as a main dish or as a side to grilled protein or tofu.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1429 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 74.3 g | 95% | |
| Saturated Fat | 7.8 g | 39% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 11.7 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 1388 mg | 60% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 152.8 g | 56% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 36.1 g | 129% | |
| Total Sugars | 70.3 g | ||
| Protein | 52.5 g | 105% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 548 mg | 42% | |
| Iron | 15.6 mg | 87% | |
| Potassium | 3065 mg | 65% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
