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Grilled Jalapeño Peach Quinoa Salad – summer peaches, corn, and tomatoes tossed together with quinoa, avocado, and spicy/sweet candied jalapeños. Add a yummy herb dressing and lots of crumbled feta for a colorful salad that’s anything but boring. It’s the combination of grilled and raw corn, sweet, juicy peaches, and herb-based dressing. They’re a unique, flavorful, and hard-to-beat combo. A beyond delicious summer salad.
I know a salad might not seem all that exciting, but I promise you this salad really is worth it. It’s a little different, maybe even slightly “retro” with its highlight of quinoa (I feel like quinoa had its moment back in 2012). But it’s all things, “holy freaking YUM”.
Originally, I wanted to recreate a BBQ grilled corn quinoa salad that I made all the way back in 2012. It’s funny, when I look back at those old, old recipes I think one of two things. One, “wow this recipe is very long and a little odd. I wonder if anyone ever made this?”. And two, “wow, this recipe honestly sounds pretty good, I should make this again”.
Most of the recipes from that first year are tasty but way too involved for every day. So glad I learned to adapt to creating quick and simpler recipes! But some of the recipes still sound totally yummy. Sometimes when I’m stuck on ideas, I pull out those old gems and recreate them.
Which is just what I did here, only this salad is totally different. But the inspo was there!
Making this is easy – here are details
First things first, if you don’t have any leftover quinoa in the fridge, cook up the quinoa according to package directions. I bring 2 cups of water to a boil, add 1 cup of dry quinoa, cover, and simmer over the lowest heat possible for 25-30 minutes. Just like I cook rice. It’s super easy.
Now move on to the dressing.
It’s a lot of ingredients, but mostly herbs and seasonings you hopefully have on hand. Olive oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, spicy or regular honey, lots of fresh cilantro, basil, chives, shallots, garlic, and then salt, pepper, and chili flakes.
I’m currently obsessed with herbs since we have an abundance of them growing, especially basil and chives.
The dressing is very herby with a sweet-spicy kick from the honey and chili flakes. It’s truly DELICIOUS.
The salad
Combine the cooked quinoa with Tajin or chili powder. If you’re using chili powder in place of the Tajin, I recommend adding a dash of smoky paprika too.
Then, toss in everything else. The dressing, a mix of grilled and raw corn, fresh peaches, tomatoes, avocado, and crumbled feta cheese.
If you’re serving this later, add the avocado just before serving!
Looking for other salad recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Summer Chicken Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing
Pesto Chicken and Avocado Bacon Salad Wraps
Lastly, if you make this Grilled Jalapeño Peach Quinoa Salad, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Grilled Jalapeño Peach Quinoa Salad
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 751 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons spicy or regular honey
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 2 tablespoons chives, chopped
- 1 small shallot, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- kosher salt and black pepper
- chili flakes
Salad
- 3 cups cooked quinoa
- 1-2 tablespoons Tajin or chili powder
- 2 ears grilled or roasted corn, kernels cut off the cob
- 2 ears raw corn, kernels cut off the cob
- 1-2 peaches, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1-2 avocados, chopped
- 2 tablespoons candied or pickled jalapeños
- 6 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
Instructions
- 1. To make the dressing. Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Pulse until well combined. Season with salt and pepper. 2. In a large salad bowl, toss together the quinoa with the Tajin. Add the grilled corn, raw corn, peaches, tomatoes, avocado, jalapeños, and feta cheese. 3. Pour over the dressing and toss well. Enjoy warm or chilled. I like to add wraps or crackers for scooping. DELICIOUS.
Candied Jalapeños
- 1. Bring 1/3 cup honey to a gentle boil. Simmer over low for 3-5 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, arrange 2-3 sliced jalapeños in a glass jar. Pour the honey over the jalapeños. Add 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar and a pinch of salt. Let cool. Keep stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
I made this last night and it was sooo good!
I do have one question. I followed recipe exactly for candied jalapeños but i notice on the Instagram video it looks like you had the jalapeños boiling with the honey. Which way is the best?
Hi Dana,
Thanks for your review and trying this recipe out, I love to hear that it was a winner! Either way works great:) Have the best Thursday! ?xTieghan
I was skeptical if I’d like it because fruit and jalapeños didn’t seem like it would go well for me. It was amazing! I was blown away at how flavorful it was and how well everything went together!!! So so good! Perfect summer dish with chicken added to it!
Hey Katie,
Thanks for your review and trying this recipe out, I love to hear that it was a winner! Have the best Thursday! ?xTieghan
I am in the process of making this salad…for tomorrow. I roasted the corn, made the dressing and cooked up some quinoa. I made the candied jalapeños. I followed your instructions. Sliced the jalapeños, put in jar. Simmered some honey for about 3-1/2 min. Poured over peppers and added some vinegar. It looks like you were cooking the peppers in your “reel”?.! Help. Did I make these wrong. Are they candied or pickled or both?
Hi Sandy,
The recipe works either way:) They are going to be great the way you made them! Let me know how the salad turns out! xx
Tieghan, I finished putting together the salad this morning. I divided it among 6 Chinese takeout containers and packed them in a cooler for part of a shared supper at the beach tonight. The weather was perfect as we listened to some fabulous Blues on the Beach music here in RI. Other friends contributed to the meal but the favorite was this quinoa salad! Everyone loved the idea of added peaches but mostly they loved the candied jalapeños!! It was a hit and I’ll be making it again real soon! Thanks!
Hi Sandy,
Wow, what a great idea!! Thanks for your review and trying this recipe out, I love to hear that it was a winner! Have the best Thursday! ?xTieghan
This is a great summer dinner! Next time I might add grilled chicken. Only took about 30 minutes to make, which is a win. This will be added to the list to make again!
Hi Melissa!
Happy Wednesday!! I am so glad to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks for making it! xx
The night before this recipe was posted I thought “a quinoa salad with avocado sounds nice” and then I woke up and saw this recipe in my email and knew it was divine intervention! Thank you for not only reading my mind but delivering with the most delicious salad that I would never be able to invent myself!
Forgot to rate of course
Thanks again Alyssa:)
Hey Alyssa,
Amazing!! I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it and sharing your feedback:) Great minds think alike!!
Loved! Did take about 2hrs but worth it. Added grilled chicken on top (Also seasoned with tajin). Will make again.
Hi Elizabeth,
Amazing!! I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it and sharing your feedback:) Sorry this took you longer than expected!
Delicious, colorful and almost too pretty to eat! Perfect summer salad for the 115 degree nights in Phoenix, AZ 🙂
Wow!! That is so hot! Thanks for making the salad Jenna, I’m glad it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Made this tonight! Everyone loved it. The candied jalapeños were amazing. Only complaint was there were no leftovers:)
Hey Jen!
Fantastic! Thanks for your comment and trying the recipe:) I am so glad it was enjoyed! xxT
Made this over the weekend exactly as written (added poached chicken on top for added protein)….PERFECTION! I will be making this whenever I can get my hands on ripe peaches, corn & avocados!!!! Most everything can be prepped in advance…dressing, chicken (optional), roasted corn, quinoa, cubing feta)…great for company or an al fresco lunch/dinner! Another innovative and DELISH recipe – thanks Tieghan!
Hey Kris,
Happy Tuesday! Thanks so much for your kind message and sharing your feedback, I love to hear that this recipe was a winner! xT
Wonderful summer salad. I made this with couscous because I didn’t have quinoa on hand. It is SO yummy. The herb dressing is also delicious on roasted vegetables with rice. I’ve never made candied jalapenos, and now I want them on everything!
Hi Nancy,
Thank you so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was a winner! Hope you’re off to a great day! xTieghan
Delicious combination! One question though, did you remove the seeds from your jalapenos? I followed your instructions exactly for those but mine are still very spicy, so I diced them up to spread out the heat in the salad, that did work but just curious if maybe I should re-boil them in the honey mixture to sweeten them up more?
Hi Ashley,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try, sorry to hear it was a little spicy for you! For less heat, just remove the seeds next time! I hope this helps! xTieghan
This is perfect for meal prep lunches. I did make a few changes to fit my macros, I only did 2 ears of corn, and added chicken breast for a protein boost. I also swapped out peaches for plums, but that’s just because it was what I had on hand. I can’t wait to use the extra pickled jalapenos on other things!
Hey Kristen,
Fantastic! Thanks for your comment and trying the recipe:) I am so glad it was enjoyed! xxT
You are a genius! I love trying your recipes because you use flavor profiles that are very different than the traditional ones my tried and true recipes use. This was SO good!
Hi Grace,
Fantastic! Thanks for your comment and trying the recipe:) I am so glad it was enjoyed! xxT
Fantastic salad. Everyone loved it. A lot of steps with prep and a lot of dirty dishes – rave reviews but definitely dependent on delish peaches. Thanks!
Hey there! I am so glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making the salad! xx
FABULOUS!!! The dressing makes it! Added kale, romaine, others greens too make it more of a salad. OMG!! A keeper for sure!
Hi Connie,
Happy Monday!! I am thrilled to hear this recipe was a hit, thanks for trying it out and sharing your review:)