Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

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Enjoy a Healthy Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette. It’s a top pick for a Vegetarian Side Dish or a Gluten-Free Salad. It brings tasty Mediterranean vibes to your meal.

This dish mixes fluffy quinoa with veggies like chickpeas, tomatoes, and feta cheese. Add a lively lemon vinaigrette for a perfect taste note.

It’s great for Meal Prep Quinoa Salad or a Fresh Veggie Quinoa Bowl. Each bite is full of flavor and goodness.

Exact Ingredients (+ Possible Substitutes)

When making a tasty Vegan Quinoa Salad, gather the needed ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

1. 1 cup dried quinoa
2. 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
3. 1 cucumber, diced
4. 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
5. 1/2 red onion, finely diced
6. 1 bell pepper, diced
7. 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
8. 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, sliced
9. 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
10. 2 cups vegetable broth (or water, for cooking quinoa)
11. 1/4 cup olive oil (substitute with avocado oil for a different flavor)
12. Juice of 1 lemon
13. 1 tsp dried oregano
14. Salt and pepper to taste

For the Greek Quinoa Salad Recipe, the dressing is key. You’ll need these for the Quinoa Salad Dressing:

1. 1/4 cup olive oil (or avocado oil)
2. 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
3. Juice of 1 lemon
4. 1 garlic clove, minced
5. 1 tsp dried oregano
6. Salt and pepper to taste

This recipe is super flexible. You can change things up to your taste or what you have. For a Vegan Quinoa Salad, skip the feta cheese. Also, toasting the quinoa can make it taste nuttier. Just dry-toast it in a pan until it’s golden.

Instructions

Start your Quinoa Salad by rinsing it under cold water. Use a fine-mesh sieve. This rinses off saponin, which tastes bitter. After rinsing, toast the quinoa in a dry skillet. Do this over medium heat for 5 minutes. It will smell nutty and taste better.

Next is Cooking Quinoa. Into a pot, put the rinsed and toasted quinoa with water or broth. Use two parts liquid to one part quinoa. Bring it to a boil. Then, lower the heat, cover, and let it simmer for 15 minutes. It should be soft and the liquid gone. Fluff it with a fork. Let it cool before adding to your salad.

Now, it’s salad time. Chop your veggies small. Use bell peppers, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and red onions. This adds color and crunch. Make the lemon vinaigrette by mixing olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper. Whisk them together in a bowl. Or, shake them in a jar. Add the quinoa, veggies, and dressing together. Stir well.

This Quinoa Salad is ready to eat or save for later. It’s great for Quinoa Meal Prep. Eat it alone or with your favorite protein. This salad is easy to change. Try different veggies or dressings. Make it just the way you like. Now, enjoy your healthy and tasty quinoa salad!