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top view of a bowl of quinoa salad
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5 from 2 votes

Healthy Quinoa Salad

Think Greek Quinoa Salad is high in protein and will keep you full for hours. Perfect side salad for any occasion.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Servings: 5
Author: Melissa Griffiths

Ingredients

For the salad:

  • 1 cup uncooked quinoa makes roughly 3 cups cooked
  • 1 baby cucumber or 1/2 large cucumber sliced
  • 1/2-1 orange bell pepper diced
  • 1/2-3/4 cup baby tomatoes halved
  • 1/2-3/4 cup baby spinach torn or sliced thinly
  • 1/2 cup sliced olives Kalamata or black olives
  • 2-4 tablesppons finely minced red onion
  • a few pepperoncini for garnish sliced if you like

For the dressing:

  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons honey more or less, to taste
  • 1-2 small cloves garlic finely minced
  • 1/4-1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • First, prepare the quinoa. Rinse quinoa in a strainer, then add to a medium saucepan with 2 cups of water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Add a lid to the pot and allow to simmer for 15-20 minutes, or till water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and set aside to cool a bit.
  • While the quinoa is cooking, whisk the dressing together.
  • Add lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar, honey, garlic, oregano, and a pinch of salt and pepper to a liquid measuring cup or small bowl and whisk until well blended.
  • Taste and add additional honey, oregano, salt or pepper to taste.
  • When quinoa is slightly cooled, toss it with the vinaigrette, cucumber, bell pepper, tomatoes, spinach, and olives.
  • Add a few peperoncinis for good measure, and refrigerate until the whole mixture is nice and chilled.
  • Serve cold as a side or main dish.

Notes

  • This is the most flexible salad ever and I LOVE IT! Add more veggies, add ones you have or like, don't add what you don't like. Sometimes if I'm not wanting to put the dressing together I'll just use a bottle vinaigrette, so easy! Make it your own and love every minute of it.
  • Rinsing the quinoa removes the natural coating, saponin, which can make quinoa taste bitter.
  • Let the quinoa cool completely before mixing with other ingredients to avoid wilting the vegetables.
  • Taste the dressing as you make it and adjust the honey, salt, and pepper to your preference.
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Nutrition

Serving: 1 of 5 servings | Calories: 281kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 452mg | Potassium: 399mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 862IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 2mg

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