Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
This salad is a meal in itself packed with protein. Fill it with your favorite veggies and toss it with the vinaigrette while the quinoa is still warm. Perfect for cookouts, picnics, served alongside your favorite grilled meat and salad. Make extra and your lunches are set for the week!
Ingredients
Quinoa
- 2 cups quinoa cooked and cooled
- 1 large minced garlic cloves (cook with quinoa)
Veggies & Cheeses
- 4 green onions (greens and whites) sliced thin
- 1 large cucumber sliced and cut in quarters
- 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes or 5 or 6 Roma tomatoes chopped
- 1 15 oz can chickpeas
- 1 red/orange/yellow pepper, chopped
- 5-6 jarred roasted red peppers, chopped
- 1 8oz mozzarella ball, chopped into chunks
- 8 oz feta cheese, crumbled
- chopped fresh basil/parsley optional
- lemon zest optional
Vinaigrette
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp cider vinegar
- 2 tsp dijon mustard
- ½ cup olive or avocado oil
- honey to taste
- salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste
Additional optional add-ins
- Jarred artichokes, chopped
- olives, chopped
- dried oregano and basil or greek seasoning to taste
- minced red or white onion, soaked in the vinaigrette for at least 10 minutes to soften the flavor
Instructions
- Mince garlic and cook with the quinoa according to package directions.
- While the quinoa is cooking, chop all the vegetables and cheeses
- Mix the vinaigrette. Whisk until emulsified. Taste it! Adjust ingredients to taste.
- Add vinaigrette to warm cooked quinoa. Toss to combine.
- Add all remaining ingredients. Serve warm, room temperature, or cold!
Notes
This can be served cold, room temperature or warm.
You don't need both mozzarella and feta, but if you have them it makes for a hearty dish!
Toss in chopped olives or artichokes if you are a fan!
Mince up some red or white onion and let it sit in the vinaigrette to soften the flavor a bit.
Fresh herbs and lemon zest aren't needed, but they do add brightness to the dish.
No fresh herbs on hand and need more zip? Shake in some dried oregano and basil to taste.
Mix up some extra vinaigrette if you find you have loaded up your salad with extra veggies (yum!), or you like additional flavor. I also like to make extra so have it available to toss into leftovers.