This Mediterranean quinoa salad recipe is hearty, wholesome, and full of recent taste! Serve it as a facet dish, or take pleasure in it as a meal by itself.
This Mediterranean quinoa salad recipe is recent and flavorful. It’s a scrumptious addition to the menu of any potluck, cookout, or picnic. It might probably simply cross as a facet dish, however it’s so hearty and satisfying that it may be the principle occasion, too.
And when you occur to have leftovers, you’re in luck! This quinoa salad retains properly when you make it forward of time, so it’s an awesome recipe to meal prep for wholesome lunches all through the week.
Through the years, I’ve shared numerous quinoa salad recipes on the weblog, however I’m particularly smitten with this one. Roasted tomatoes, olives, and feta pack it with savory, briny taste, and a easy olive oil and lemon dressing makes it good and vibrant. I hope you find it irresistible too!
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad Elements
Right here’s what you’ll have to make this Mediterranean quinoa salad recipe:
- Quinoa, in fact! Quinoa cooks like a grain, however it’s really a grain-like seed that hails from South America. It’s naturally gluten-free and full of fiber and plant-based protein. Discover my methodology for cooking it within the callout beneath.
- Roasted tomatoes – Roasted cherry or grape tomatoes add wealthy, savory taste and chewy texture to this salad. They take a while to make, so be sure you plan forward.
- Persian cucumbers – For crunch.
- Crimson onion – For sharp depth of taste.
- Feta cheese – I like its creamy texture and tangy taste on this quinoa salad recipe, however be happy to skip it when you’re vegan.
- Kalamata olives – I’m an olive convert! For years, I averted olives, however their briny, salty taste takes this salad to a complete new stage.
- Toasted pine nuts and roasted chickpeas – They add protein, nutty taste, and plenty of crunch. Tip: Use store-bought roasted chickpeas to save lots of your self a prep step.
- Arugula and combined herbs – They make this salad good and recent! I like to make use of a wide range of leafy herbs right here, resembling mint, parsley, oregano, thyme, and/or basil.
- Italian dressing – Shiny, tangy, and flecked with (extra) herbs, it ties the entire salad collectively!
Discover the whole recipe with measurements beneath.
How one can Cook dinner Quinoa
Cooking quinoa is so much like cooking rice:
- Rinse the quinoa in a wonderful mesh strainer to take away its bitter pure coating.
- Place in a medium saucepan with a tightly becoming lid. Add 1 3/4 cups water for each 1 cup of quinoa.
- Carry the water to a boil, then cut back the warmth to low. Cowl and simmer for 12 to fifteen minutes, or till the water is absorbed.
- Flip off the warmth and let the quinoa sit, coated, for 10 minutes to proceed to steam.
Then, fluff with a fork! 1 cup dry quinoa yields 3 cups cooked. For extra quinoa-cooking ideas, take a look at my information to tips on how to prepare dinner quinoa.
For this recipe, I like to recommend cooking the quinoa forward. It ought to be cool or at room temperature once you toss the salad collectively. If it’s nonetheless heat, it’ll wilt the arugula and recent herbs. Cook dinner it not less than an hour and as much as 2 days earlier than you assemble the salad.
How one can Make Quinoa Salad
The primary steps on this quinoa salad recipe are cooking the quinoa and roasting the tomatoes. You possibly can prep each as much as 3 days upfront. Retailer them in an hermetic container within the fridge till you’re able to make the salad.
Subsequent, make the dressing. A easy mix of extra-virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, and herbs, it’s fast to whisk collectively in a bowl or jar.
Then, toss the salad collectively. In a big bowl, mix the quinoa, veggies, herbs, feta, olives, pine nuts, and half the dressing. Toss to coat earlier than including the salt, pepper, and pink pepper flakes and tossing once more.
Season to style, including extra dressing as desired. High with the roasted chickpeas and serve!
Recipe Variations
This wholesome quinoa salad recipe is scrumptious as written, however that doesn’t imply you may’t play with it! Have enjoyable customizing it primarily based on what you’re craving or what you could have available. Listed here are a couple of concepts to get you began:
- Make it vegan. Skip the cheese! Add a couple of additional olives or roasted tomatoes to amp up the savory taste.
- Change the grain. As an alternative of quinoa, use farro or Israeli couscous. Word that the salad will not be gluten-free.
- Swap the dressing. Change the Italian dressing with Greek salad dressing or lemon French dressing.
- Combine up the veggies. Substitute chopped spinach or massaged kale for the arugula, or skip the greens solely. As an alternative, stir in a cup of roasted broccoli, 1/2 cup roasted pink bell peppers, or a diced avocado.
- Take a shortcut. Change the roasted tomatoes with recent cherry tomatoes, halved, or oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes.
Let me know what variations you attempt!
What to Serve with Quinoa Salad
Serve this quinoa salad recipe as a facet dish with a summer season dinner. It pairs properly with traditional cookout fare like veggie burgers, black bean burgers, portobello mushroom burgers, or BBQ jackfruit sandwiches.
It’s additionally a beautiful vegetarian primary dish. Spherical out the meal with grilled greens or sautéed yellow squash.
If in case you have leftovers, this Mediterranean quinoa salad packs up completely for lunch. For the very best taste, retailer among the recent herbs individually and scatter them on proper earlier than you eat. I additionally suggest seasoning to style with salt, pepper, a drizzle of olive oil, and/or an additional squeeze of lemon juice after this salad has spent a couple of days within the fridge.
Extra Favourite Hearty Salads
For those who love this straightforward, wholesome quinoa salad recipe, attempt considered one of these hearty salads subsequent:
Quinoa Salad
Serves 6
This Mediterranean quinoa salad recipe is wholesome and scrumptious! Full of roasted tomatoes, cucumbers, and recent herbs, it is an ideal meal prep lunch or dinner facet dish. For quick meeting, roast the tomatoes upfront.
- 3 cups cooked quinoa
- 1 recipe Roasted Tomatoes
- 2 cups arugula
- 1 cup sliced Persian cucumbers
- 1 cup combined recent basil and mint leaves
- ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¾ cup kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- ½ cup diced pink onion
- â…“ cup toasted pine nuts
- 1 recipe Italian Dressing, plus 2 extra garlic cloves, grated
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- Freshly floor black pepper
- Crimson pepper flakes
- 1 cup roasted chickpeas
Forestall your display from going darkish
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In a big bowl, mix the quinoa, roasted tomatoes, arugula, cucumbers, basil and mint, feta, olives, onion, and pine nuts.
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Toss to mix, then drizzle with half the dressing and toss once more. Sprinkle with the salt, pepper, and some pinches of pink pepper flakes and toss once more. Season to style, tossing with extra dressing as desired. High with the roasted chickpeas and serve.
Make this recipe vegan by omitting the cheese.
