Mediterranean Quinoa Salad with Lemon-Herb Dressing

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad with Lemon-Herb Dressing ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups vegetable broth or water
• 1 medium cucumber
• 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• 0.5 medium red onion
• 0.5 cup Kalamata olives
• 0.5 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 0.25 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 0.25 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 0.25 tsp black pepper

How to make Mediterranean Quinoa Salad with Lemon-Herb Dressing

1. Rinse the 1 cup quinoa thoroughly under cold water using a fine-mesh sieve; this removes saponins that can cause a bitter taste.
2. Combine the rinsed quinoa and 2 cups vegetable broth or water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until all the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa appears fluffy.
3. Remove the saucepan from heat and let it stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Then, fluff the quinoa with a fork and spread it out on a baking sheet to cool completely, which prevents the salad from becoming soggy.
4. While the quinoa cools, prepare the vegetables: dice 1 medium cucumber, halve the 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes, dice 1 medium red bell pepper, finely dice 0.5 medium red onion, and halve the 0.5 cup Kalamata olives.
5. In a small bowl, whisk together the 0.25 cup extra virgin olive oil, 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 minced garlic clove, 0.5 tsp salt, and 0.25 tsp black pepper until well combined for the lemon-herb dressing.
6. Once the quinoa is cool, transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Add the diced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, diced red bell pepper, diced red onion, halved Kalamata olives, 0.5 cup crumbled feta cheese, and 0.25 cup chopped fresh parsley.
7. Pour the prepared lemon-herb dressing over the salad ingredients. Gently toss everything together until all vegetables and quinoa are evenly coated with the dressing.
8. Taste the salad and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more salt, pepper, or lemon juice to your preference.
9. For best flavor, cover and refrigerate the Mediterranean Quinoa Salad for at least 30 minutes before serving, allowing the flavors to meld. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

More recipes you might like

Browse related collections

Cook smarter with Recipe Genius

Generate recipes, build meal plans, and create shopping lists with Recipe Genius.