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Fresh Mediterranean Quinoa Salad Easy Recipe with Zesty Lemon Herb Dressing

Mediterranean quinoa salad - featured image
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A fresh, hearty Mediterranean quinoa salad tossed with a zesty lemon herb dressing, perfect for quick, light meals or impressing guests with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (170g) uncooked quinoa, rinsed
  • 1 cup (150g) cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 medium cucumber, diced
  • ½ cup (75g) Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
  • ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped (optional)
  • ½ cup (75g) feta cheese, crumbled (or dairy-free alternative)
  • ¼ cup (60ml) fresh lemon juice
  • ⅓ cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon fresh oregano or basil, finely chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Rinse the quinoa under cold running water for about 1 minute using a fine mesh strainer to remove bitterness. Drain well.
  2. Transfer rinsed quinoa to a medium saucepan and add 2 cups (475ml) of water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is tender.
  3. Remove from heat and let quinoa sit covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and transfer to a large bowl to cool completely.
  4. While quinoa cooks, halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber, finely dice red onion, and roughly chop parsley and mint if using.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, honey or maple syrup, salt, and pepper. Stir in chopped oregano or basil if using.
  6. Add cooled quinoa to the bowl with chopped vegetables, olives, and crumbled feta cheese. Pour the dressing over and toss gently but thoroughly to combine.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or lemon juice if needed.
  8. Serve immediately or chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to let flavors meld.

Notes

Rinse quinoa thoroughly to remove bitterness. Do not overcook quinoa to avoid mushiness. Let quinoa rest covered after cooking to absorb moisture. Whisk mustard and lemon juice first before adding olive oil to emulsify dressing. Store dressing separately if making ahead to keep veggies crisp.

Nutrition

Keywords: Mediterranean quinoa salad, lemon herb dressing, healthy salad, quick salad recipe, gluten-free, vegetarian, easy dinner

Find it online: https://eliplate.com/fresh-mediterranean-quinoa-salad-easy-recipe-with-zesty-lemon-herb-dressing/