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!

Nutriscore Rating: 80/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 4

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

Directions

Step 1

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.

Step 2

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.

Step 3

Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients in the large bowl and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.

Step 4

Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt or pepper if needed.

Step 5

Divide the salad into individual serving plates or bowls.

Step 6

Garnish with additional cilantro and a sprinkle of black sesame seeds if desired.

Step 7

Serve immediately as a main dish or as a side to grilled protein or tofu.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(985.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1429.1

Total Fat 74.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 7.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 11.7g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1388.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 152.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 36.1g	0%
Total Sugars 70.3g
Protein 52.5g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 548.1mg	0%
Iron 15.6mg	0%
Potassium 3064.8mg	0%

*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.

Source of Calories

Fat: 44.9%

Protein: 14.1%

Carbs: 41.0%