Description
This Greek Quinoa Salad is a refreshing and nutritious dish combining fluffy quinoa with fresh vegetables, kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese. Tossed in a tangy red wine vinegar and olive oil dressing, it’s perfect as a light lunch or a flavorful side for dinner, embodying vibrant Mediterranean flavors and wholesome ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Quinoa Base
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa
Dressing
- â…“ cup red wine vinegar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- Juice of one lemon
Vegetables & Add-ins
- 1 small red onion, diced
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
- ½ cup chopped kalamata olives
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Cheese & Seasoning
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Cook Quinoa: Bring quinoa and water to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook uncovered for 15-20 minutes or until water is fully absorbed and quinoa is tender. Fluff quinoa with a fork and let cool for 5 minutes.
- Add Dressing: Stir in olive oil and red wine vinegar into the cooked quinoa. Allow the quinoa to come to room temperature to absorb the dressing flavors.
- Combine Vegetables and Seasonings: Gently fold in diced red onion, red pepper, Roma tomatoes, chopped kalamata olives, fresh cilantro, salt, and freshly ground pepper. Mix carefully to evenly distribute ingredients without mashing the vegetables.
- Add Feta and Chill: Incorporate crumbled feta cheese gently into the salad. Cover and chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to let the flavors meld together.
- Finish with Lemon Juice: Just before serving, squeeze fresh lemon juice over the salad to brighten and enhance the combined flavors.
Notes
- To save time, quinoa can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated.
- For variation, you can substitute cilantro with fresh parsley or mint.
- This salad keeps well refrigerated for up to 3 days, making it a great make-ahead dish.
- For a vegan option, omit the feta cheese or use a dairy-free alternative.
- Rinsing quinoa before cooking helps reduce any bitterness.
