quinoa salad
so simple, so tasty.
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2 cups water or vegetable broth
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 pcs cucumber diced
- 1 pcs bell pepper diced
- ¼ cup red onion finely chopped
- ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
- ¼ cup fresh mint chopped
- ¼ cup kalamata olives pitted and halved
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese (optional, omit for a vegan version)
for the dressings
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse the quinoa thoroughly under cold water to remove any bitterness. Drain well.
- In a medium-sized saucepan, bring the water or vegetable broth to a boil. Add the quinoa and reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until the quinoa is tender and the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let it cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, parsley, mint, and Kalamata olives. Toss gently to combine.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
- Pour the dressing over the quinoa salad and toss well to coat all the ingredients.
- If using feta cheese, sprinkle it over the salad and gently toss.
- Taste and adjust the seasonings if needed.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate the quinoa salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve chilled as a side dish or as a light and refreshing main course.
Notes
The time needed to make a quinoa salad can also vary depending on factors such as the cooking time for the quinoa and the preparation of the other ingredients. On average, it should take approximately 25-30 minutes to make a quinoa salad. Here’s a breakdown of the time involved:
- Cooking the quinoa: This usually takes around 15-20 minutes, including rinsing the quinoa and allowing it to simmer in water or broth until tender.
- Preparing the vegetables and herbs: While the quinoa cooks, you can dice the tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, and onion, and chop the parsley and mint. This typically takes around 5-10 minutes.
- Making the dressing: Whisking together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, mustard, salt, and pepper for the dressing usually takes just a couple of minutes.
- Assembling the salad: Once the quinoa is cooked and cooled, and the vegetables, herbs, and dressing are ready, you can combine them all in a mixing bowl. This step takes about 5 minutes.
- Chilling time: It’s recommended to refrigerate the quinoa salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together, although this is optional.