Nut-Free Refreshing Quinoa Salad

Brighten up your table with this Nut-Free Refreshing Quinoa Salad—a light, zesty, and vibrant dish that’s as nourishing as it is delicious. This easy-to-make salad combines the fluffy texture of perfectly cooked quinoa with crisp cucumber, succulent grape tomatoes, sweet red bell pepper, and a hint of sharpness from red onion. Fresh parsley adds an herbaceous touch, while a simple homemade dressing of olive oil and lemon juice ties everything together with tangy simplicity. Completely free of nuts and ready in just 30 minutes (plus chill time), this gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly recipe is perfect as a refreshing side dish or a satisfying light main course. Whether you’re meal prepping for the week or entertaining guests, this quinoa salad is guaranteed to impress with its garden-fresh flavors and effortless charm!

Nutriscore Rating: 71/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1 medium cucumber
• 1 cup grape tomatoes
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• 0.25 large red onion
• 0.5 cup fresh parsley
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the quinoa under cold water using a fine mesh sieve to remove any bitterness. Drain well.

Step 2

In a medium saucepan, combine the quinoa and water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Step 3

Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover, and let simmer for about 15 minutes until all the water is absorbed.

Step 4

Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the quinoa sit, covered, for another 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and let it cool completely.

Step 5

While the quinoa cools, prepare the vegetables: dice the cucumber, halve the grape tomatoes, dice the red bell pepper, and finely chop the red onion and parsley.

Step 6

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled quinoa, cucumber, tomatoes, bell pepper, red onion, and parsley.

Step 7

In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and black pepper.

Step 8

Pour the dressing over the quinoa mixture and toss well to combine.

Step 9

Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.

Step 10

Serve chilled or at room temperature as a refreshing side dish or a light main course.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1291.1 grams (1291.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1078

Total Fat 55.30g	71%
Saturated Fat 6.80g	34%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.10g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2429mg	106%
Total Carbohydrate 118.70g	43%
Dietary Fiber 6.80g	24%
Total Sugars 14.10g
Protein 28.70g	57%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 153mg	12%
Iron 8mg	45%
Potassium 1384mg	29%

*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: 45.8%

Protein: 10.6%

Carbs: 43.7%