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Easy • Vegetarian

Mediterranean-Inspired Quinoa Salad

A vibrant and refreshing salad packed with healthy quinoa, crisp veggies, and a zesty lemon-herb dressing.

Prep
20 min
Cook
15 min
Servings
4
Level
Easy
Mediterranean-Inspired Quinoa Salad

Brighten up your meal routine with this Mediterranean-Inspired Quinoa Salad! It's a colorful, satisfying dish that's perfect for lunch, a light dinner, or a fantastic side. Full of fresh flavors and textures, it's also wonderfully nutritious and keeps well for meal prep.

Ingredients

Yield: 4 servings

Salad

  • 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
  • 2 cups vegetable broth or water
  • 1 cup chopped cucumber
  • 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives, halved
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Lemon Herb Dressing

  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp dried mint (optional)
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Cook quinoa: Combine rinsed quinoa and broth/water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and let cool slightly.

  2. Step 2

    Prepare veggies: While quinoa cooks, chop cucumber, tomatoes, olives, red onion, and parsley.

  3. Step 3

    Make dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, mint (if using), minced garlic, salt, and pepper until well combined.

  4. Step 4

    Combine: In a large bowl, combine the cooled quinoa, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, red onion, feta cheese, and fresh parsley.

  5. Step 5

    Dress and serve: Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently to coat everything evenly. Serve immediately or chill for at least 30 minutes for flavors to meld.

Tips

  • To save time, use pre-cooked quinoa.
  • Add grilled chicken or chickpeas for extra protein to make it a more substantial meal.
  • For a slightly different flavor, try adding some diced bell peppers or capers.

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