Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Bright, fresh, and bursting with bold flavors, this Mediterranean Quinoa Salad is the ultimate healthy, satisfying dish. Featuring fluffy quinoa as its protein-packed base, this colorful salad is loaded with juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, briny Kalamata olives, and tangy crumbled feta cheese for a harmonious blend of textures. A zesty dressing made with extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and a hint of black pepper ties everything together, while fresh parsley adds an herby finish. Ready in just 30 minutes, this vibrant gluten-free salad is perfect as a light lunch, a side dish for grilled meats or fish, or a refreshing make-ahead meal for meal prep. Packed with nutrients and Mediterranean-inspired goodness, it's a wholesome recipe that will have everyone coming back for seconds!

Nutriscore Rating: 68/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium cucumber
• 0.5 medium red onion
• 0.5 cup kalamata olives
• 0.5 cup feta cheese
• 0.25 cup parsley
• 0.25 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Rinse quinoa under cold water using a fine-mesh strainer.

Step 2

In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil.

Step 3

Add the quinoa to the boiling water, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until the quinoa is fluffy and water is absorbed.

Step 4

Once done, remove from heat and let it sit for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork and let it cool to room temperature.

Step 5

While the quinoa is cooling, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, finely chop the red onion, and slice the kalamata olives.

Step 6

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled quinoa, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and olives.

Step 7

Crumble the feta cheese and finely chop the parsley, then add both to the quinoa mixture.

Step 8

In a small bowl or mason jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.

Step 9

Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss until all ingredients are well coated.

Step 10

Chill the salad for at least 15 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.

Step 11

Serve chilled as a refreshing dinner salad or alongside grilled meats or fish.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1388.7 grams (1388.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1694

Total Fat 118.40g	152%
Saturated Fat 22.10g	111%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.50g
Cholesterol 67mg	22%
Sodium 4096mg	178%
Total Carbohydrate 124.50g	45%
Dietary Fiber 12.30g	44%
Total Sugars 11.30g
Protein 38.40g	77%

Vitamin D 12IU	60%
Calcium 623mg	48%
Iron 12mg	64%
Potassium 1060mg	23%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 62.1%

Protein: 8.9%

Carbs: 29.0%