Protein Egg and Quinoa Salad Jars
A protein-packed meatless salad in a jar made with quinoa, lentils, grape tomatoes, arugula, avocado and hard boiled eggs are perfect to pack for work, the beach, picnics, or anywhere you need a portable lunch on-the-go!
This was inspired by a similar lunch I had last week in Manhattan. It was so delicious and simple I made it the next day and share with my cousin, who loved it! I made a simple lemon vinaigrette and placed the avocados in the bottom of the jar to keep them from browning and it worked like a charm. I usually cook up a batch of quinoa to throw in salads throughout the week and bought cooked lentils from Trader Joe’s which made this salad come together quick. Perfect for vegetarians who are always looking for ways to get more protein in their diet or anyone who wants to incorporate more plant based foods in their diet.
Protein Egg and Quinoa Salad Jars
Ingredients
- 1/2 large lemon
- 4 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- black pepper
- 3 oz avocado, 1/2 med haas
- 1/2 cup cooked lentils, I bought them at Trader Joes
- 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
- 1/2 cup halved grape tomatoes
- 2 cups baby arugula
- 2 large eggs, hard boiled
Instructions
- Whisk the lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper in a small bowl and divide in 2 pint sized mason jars. In this order, layer the avocado, lentils, quinoa, tomatoes, arugula and egg dividing equally. Close jar and refrigerate for up to 2 days. To eat, shake well and pour onto a plate and eat!
Does the lettuce get super soft and mushy?
Love this! So easy to make and was sooo good! I first thought it wouldn’t be enough to fill me up but when I took it for lunch I could barely finish it! Just made another jar and added some rotisserie chicken this time.
I really did not think this would taste as good as it does, but somehow the flavors just meld together and make a DELICIOUS and filling lunch. Seriously, I’ve been eating this every day for lunch during the work week for 2 weeks now and I’m not sick of it. Only thing I did is add 1 small clove of crushed garlic to the dressing. And for a couple of days, subbed a few roasted sweet potato cubes in place of the lentils. Sooooo good.
How are you all cooking the lentils to keep them that firm looking?
Not sure how you are getting 6 SP on blue for this. I have recalculated it several times and continue to get 7. 2 tsp Olive oil = 3 pts, 1.5 oz avocado is 2 pts, 1/4 cup quinoa is 2 pts. Rest is all 0. What are you using that is different?
I got so many requests for this recipe last week; the bright, colorful salad in the mason jar really piqued curiosity in the lounge!
This salad is absolutely PHENOMENAL! I was a little skeptical at first, but wow…so delicious! I didn’t add egg, added some chickpeas, cucumber, and put it in a Quart sized jar (so I made a tiny extra dressing to split)…Having it for lunch today and I’m in love! So simple and delicious. Thank you for a healthy salad that’s filling and easy to make (and cheap!), will be my go to for a while now 🙂
I really do not like hard boiled eggs. Can I use scrambled eggs?
My second time making this recipe this week (I still have cooked lentils and quinoa) I love the assembly and the taste is wonderful. This time I sliced some onion and added before the lentils. ❤️
Delicious and so easy, a keeper.
Do you use pint size mason jars for your recipe?
For this one yes.
This salad is amazing! Fresh, delicious, and hardy! I use kidney beans instead of lentils. One of my favorite lunches! Thanks Gina!
I made this for my lunch tomorrow. Can’t wait to try it. I added fresh chopped garlic to the lemon vinaigrette, red onions and cucumbers as well.
I want to make this salad, but I am not a fan of avocados or raw tomatoes. I am thinking I could replace the tomato with red pepper – maybe roasted? But what subsitute is there for avocado? Should I up the lentil amount?
Thanks in advance for any insight!
Is there a reason to use a jar instead of a tupperware or plastic container? It looks beautiful and nice not to use plastics but is there another reason??? Im concerned about breaking the glass. Thanks
The idea is you don’t want your dressing to touch the greens, so it’s layered. Then you shake and eat. But you can make it however you wish!
I put this into my WW app and it said it was 11 smart points, not 6. The olive oil and avocado are each 3 and then the quinoa is 5? Am I missing something? I love making it, it’s delicious and super easy, just want to make sure I’m tracking it right.
Love your recipes! Been making them for a while. But recently I started logging everything I eat in order to keep track of every single calorie I consume each day. In doing so, I calculated the calories per ingredient for this recipe (and divided by 2). By my calculations (and according to Google & Lose It calorie indicator), the total calorie count for this recipe is actually 307/serving. I know a 79 calorie difference isn’t much, but for me it’s an extra snack. Again, love your recipes, just a little disappointing that I can’t trust the numbers.
Sorry about that, I don’t know how that happened but I went back and yes indeed, they were wrong. Human error, its fixed now!
Could you just make as a normal salad and pour dressing over it and mix when ready to eat? Or would that change the taste??
Sure!
This was much more satisfying and delicious than I expected! I don’t like arugula, so I replaced it with a lettuce mix, and it was equally delicious! Can’t wait to have this more often! When I made the dressing last night I didn’t expect it would turn out in the morning. Having it sit overnight was the best!
I have also had this for lunch every day this week and its great. However, can you PLEASE help with the calorie count – I see another poster also asked this question but there was no response. The recipe says it has 228 calories, but after entering it numerous times in My Fitness Pal (and also doing the math by hand), I get 318 calories. Where am I going wrong? (quinoa – 56 calories, lentils – 80 calories, grape tomatoes – 30 calories – 2 tspn. olive oil – 80 calories, avocado – 30 calories, egg – 70 calories). Thank you Gina!
Thank you for pointing this out, I went back and checked the numbers, and you’re correct, they were wrong. I just fixed them!
I’ve had this for lunch every day this week! It is sooo good. I save the lemony avocado for last because it is my favorite. I have gotten so many comments from co-workers this week telling me how good my lunch looks. Thanks!!
The best! A lot more substantial than it seems in the jar.
Loved this recipe! Definitely a “make-again.”
Thanks!
This was DELISH!
Fabulous- I want this everyday for lunch 🙂
Made this today for lunch — So good! I did black beans instead of lentils with a little bit of pico de gallo since that is what I had on hand.
Highly recommend for a light lunch.
Really excellent – wasn’t so sure i’d love this but we are trying to follow the full week so …
I loved it! Will make again!
The salad was so much better than anticipated! I used less grains/lentils and added 3oz of baked chicken breast. So good! Also doubled the recipe and ate it for dinner (Monday night) for my husband and I. Will eat for lunch Tuesday and Wednesday.
Made this today. Is so good! Really filled me up.
I’m not a big fan of quinoa. Is there a brown rice or type of rice that would work as well? Or what about the premade quinoa? How is it? I must have had a bad batch or something because I remember it tasting awful.
If your quinoa wasn’t properly rinsed it will be bitter and not pleasant at all. Perhaps that is what happened?
Any recommendations on how to cook lentils in instant pot to use in this mason jar salad? Thanks!
I put the lentils in the instant pot and covered them with water, then cooked on high pressure for 5 minutes. They turned out great.
This is my favorite lunch ever. I make them every Sunday for my husband and I. We are down 35 lbs between the two of us!
Delicious, easy recipe! I replaced lentils with chickpeas, as one of the previous commenters suggested. I was skeptical about how green the avocado would stay — but I made two of these Sunday night and ate one for lunch Monday and one Tuesday and the avocado was perfectly bright green. It works!
I’m not a lentil fan..if I used more quinoa or chickpeas, what would the ww points be?
I can’t seem to get myself to like quinoa–any suggestions of a good substitute?
Couscous or bulgar are two similar options.
Could I make these further ahead than 2 days if I add avocado later.? Would love to be able to make Sunday night for whole week.
love love love this recipe! so delicious, and i need to remember to make it again soon!
Red or green lentils?
This looks great! I am allergic to lemon. Is there something else you would suggest to substitute for it? Thank you!
Vinegar
I used wide mouth mason jars for this salad which made it easier to shake and eat. My question is: should I be worried about the fat count for this salad? I love it so much, so I hope not!
It’s all good fat so no need to worry!
This salad is on point! Love the fresh flavors. Will definitely make it again (and again and again)!
Can you use something besides avocado?
WOW! This is so good. I was really nervous because I tried a little taste of the dressing and I was not sure I was going to like it. I followed through and ate one salad right away and will have the other one tomorrow when I take my boys out to the zoo. This is so good. I loved every bite!
Hi Gina, Are the ingredients for two servings or one ? Because the quinoa will be 1/4 cup no ? Thanks in advance!
2 servings, 1/4 cup in each
I found the lentils at Trader Joe’s. Any ideas what to do with the leftovers? The package said to use within two days.
I had this for lunch today and can’t wait for lunch tomorrow to eat it again! This was the perfect blend of flavors and textures. This will be a must have lunch all summer long! Thanks so much for creating and sharing such wonderful recipes.
Eating this now. Sooooo yummy!!! 🙂
Glad you are enjoying it!
When I tried to import the recipe onto My Fitness Pal it couldn’t be done but they listed all the ingredients correctly. However they came up with a total of 415 per serving based on recipe serving 2. I loved this but am trying to keep my calorie count low. Any idea how they did this? I added up what they had and they were correct.
Update. I found that the MFP calorie count for the quinoa was way too high and after searching, found correct one. Total still higher (311), but nutritional values the same. Outstanding salad! Will be a staple!
Thank you, Gina, for helping me to remember why I love quinoa! This was so much more satisfying than my usual boring salads, and just as easy to prepare (once the quinoa and eggs were done)!
So glad you enjoyed it!
These were just SO delicious! I prepped them Wednesday night and then had one yesterday and one today for lunch. I love these flavors together and that egg on the top is “icing on the cake!” Thanks for another great recipe!
So happy you enjoyed them!
Wonderful salad! Prepare ahead and meal ready in a snap! The flavor so we’re perfect…lemon and arugula….thanks…served with fresh strawberries on the side.
Yum! This one is a keeper for sure; it’s got great flavor!!
This looks so delicious. I want to give it a try but I don’t like lentils. Do you know what would be a good substitute for the lentils? Thanks.
Just use more quinoa
I used chickpeas and it was delish!
I use kidney beans! Yum!!!
Although these look so pretty, I can tell you from experience that they are not easy to mix out of these small jars. They really make a mess. My kids and husband all complained that the jar had to be bigger. Unless you are suggesting to eat it in layers. They so look pretty, however.
This is the last step of the recipe above:
“To eat, shake well and pour onto a plate and eat!”
I use Glad 8 cup plastic containers and layer in the same way as Gina does in the jars. I take layered salads with me to work every day. When I’m ready to eat I just invert the container and shake it until mixed. I eat it right out of the container, so there’s no mess and no plate. The containers also hold more than the jars, which aren’t quite enough for me. You can find them at Meijer, Kroger, etc.
What is the tally for this salad on the 21 Day Fix?
I am not sure, I don’t do the 21 day fix so I don’t have the cups but I am sure it’s easy to figure out.
I calculated it as: 1 yellow (lentils and quinoa), 1.25 green (arugula + tomatoes), 1/2 red (1 egg), 1 blue (avocado), 2tsp oil per serving. I cannot wait to have this for lunch tomorrow! sounds and looks amazing!
Can this be made a day in advance? Two lunches worth or will the avacado turn brown on the second day? I’m the only one in the house who likes avacado and I am always throwing half out. What’s the best way to store left over avacado? Thanks
Yes, it was meant to make a day in advance. I placed the avocados on the bottom with the lemon juice to keep them from browning so as long as you follow that order and your avocados are not too ripe it will be perfect.
What size jar do you use?
pint
I like extra arugula, so I make mine in a quart jar 🙂
This looks wonderful!
where are the cooked lentils in TJ’s?
By the produce area.