Quinoa Salad

Bright, refreshing, and packed with vibrant veggies, this Quinoa Salad is a wholesome and flavor-packed dish perfect for any season. Featuring fluffy, protein-rich quinoa as the base, it's elevated with crunchy cucumber, sweet cherry tomatoes, crisp red bell pepper, and aromatic fresh herbs like parsley and mint. A simple yet zesty dressing made with olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic ties everything together for a light yet satisfying salad that's gluten-free, vegetarian, and full of nutrients. Ready in just 30 minutes, this versatile recipe is perfect as a healthy side dish, light lunch, or meal prep option. Serve it chilled or at room temperature for a burst of freshness in every bite!

Nutriscore Rating: 72/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1 medium cucumber
• 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• 0.5 medium red onion
• 0.5 cup fresh parsley
• 0.25 cup fresh mint leaves
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic
• 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.

Step 2

In a medium pot, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add the quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the quinoa is tender and the water is absorbed.

Step 3

Fluff the cooked quinoa with a fork and let it cool to room temperature.

Step 4

While the quinoa is cooling, dice the cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and red bell pepper into bite-sized pieces. Finely chop the red onion, parsley, and mint leaves.

Step 5

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

Step 6

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.

Step 7

Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine all the ingredients evenly.

Step 8

Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. You may add more lemon juice, salt, or pepper to taste.

Step 9

Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. Enjoy chilled or at room temperature!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1073.6 grams (1073.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	547

Total Fat 44.00g	56%
Saturated Fat 6.70g	34%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.00g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1241mg	54%
Total Carbohydrate 36.70g	13%
Dietary Fiber 12.60g	45%
Total Sugars 17.40g
Protein 8.30g	17%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 318mg	24%
Iron 9mg	50%
Potassium 1584mg	34%

*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: 68.8%

Protein: 5.8%

Carbs: 25.5%