Shiny Mediterranean flavors are packed into this recent and wholesome quinoa salad – spinach, tomato, cucumber, feta, crimson onion all tossed with recent herbs and a candy and tangy selfmade dressing. It’s a excellent summer season salad!
Years in the past we had a blogger lunch with the entire Utah meals bloggers. There have been just a few of us again then and it was easy to assemble round a desk to debate life and enterprise. There was a quinoa salad at one lunch that was pretty first rate however lacked a bit taste.
This was my first introduction to quinoa so I blamed it on the grain. Nonetheless, it felt recent and nourishing so I’ve been taking part in with my very own model ever since.
A buddy of mine blew my thoughts by introducing me to Prosecco vinegar and it’s turn out to be not solely the greatest quinoa salad however one among my favourite summer season aspect salads interval.
Easy methods to Make Quinoa Salad Video
What’s Quinoa?
Quinoa is technically the seed of a plant, however it’s labeled as a complete grain. It’s a nice supply of plant protein and fiber.
Elements for Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
Here’s a temporary overview of the elements you have to to make this tasty summer season salad and the selfmade salad dressing to go together with it…
- Tri Coloration Quinoa: You should utilize any quinoa that you really want. I simply love the way in which this appears within the dish.
- Spinach: Seize some recent spinach and chop it up! It provides nice colour, taste and vitamins!
- Cucumber: We favor English cucumbers so that you don’t should peel them and they’re much less seedy.
- Mung Beans: That is completely elective however I like the feel of beans in a salad and they’re an awesome supply of plant protein. We like Bob’s Purple Mill model.
- Grape Tomatoes: Slice them in half to make them simpler to eat.
- Italian Flat Leaf Parsley: We extremely advocate recent, however if you wish to use dried, add solely 2 teaspoons.
- Basil: I solely advocate recent basil.
- Feta: provides nice salty taste
- Salt and Pepper: season the salad to style
- Purple Onion: provides nice taste, texture and colour
- Purple Wine Vinegar: toss with the crimson onions when you put together the salad in order that they’re pickled
Dressing
- Olive Oil: the bottom of the dressing
- Lemon Zest and Juice: provides vibrant taste
- Prosecco Vinegar: I’m obsessive about the flavour of this vinegar however when you can’t discover, I’ve an inventory of substitutes beneath.
- Salt: enhances all of the flavors
- Honey: provides pure sweetness to stability the acidity of the lemons and vinegar
- Garlic: provides taste
The measurements for all these elements may be discovered within the recipe card on the finish of this submit.
What are Substitutes for Prosecco Vinegar?
In case you can’t discover Prosecco vinegar, another varieties of vinegar may also work. Our greatest ideas are champagne vinegar, white wine vinegar, white balsamic vinegar, crimson wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar.
Recipe Variations
This recipe may be very versatile and elements may be swapped out or added. Listed below are some concepts for additions:
- Asparagus
- Bell Peppers
- Avocados
- Peas
You possibly can additionally add some protein to make a hearty meal out of this salad. Our simple grilled hen can be scrumptious!
Causes to Love This Recipe
- Straightforward: The elements are simple to search out and the recipe is straightforward to make. Making quinoa couldn’t be simpler and the remainder is simply chopping veggies!
- Recent and flavorful: So many recent veggies and herbs makes for such a daring and attractive salad! It’s even higher if you should utilize veggies straight from the backyard!
- Wholesome: One serving of this salad recipe is lower than 300 energy, excessive in protein and fiber and low in carbs. You gained’t discover a tastier method to have all these issues!
- Make forward: This can be a nice salad to make forward of time. Put together the quinoa, chop all of the greens, and make the dressing within the morning then toss every little thing collectively simply earlier than serving.
What to Serve with It
I discussed above that you can add a protein to this and make it a most important dish. It’s also nice as an appetizer, aspect dish or mild lunch. If you wish to hold it as a salad on the aspect, listed here are some concepts of nice most important dishes to go together with it:
Storage Ideas
Mediterranean quinoa salad will hold within the fridge for as much as 5 days although it’s going to get soggy as time passes. In case you assume you should have leftover, solely add dressing to the portion that you simply assume you’ll eat after which save the remainder to mix later. This salad doesn’t freeze nicely.
Quinoa is a wonderful grain to make use of in salads, and I find it irresistible paired with all these recent Mediterranean flavors! This quinoa salad goes to one among your favourite summer season salad recipes!
Extra Scrumptious Quinoa Recipes to Attempt:
Salad
- 2 Cups Tri Coloration Quinoa, cooked
- 1 Cup Spinach, chopped
- 1 Cup Cucumber, chopped into small items
- 1/3 Cup Mung Beans, ready, Bob’s Purple Mill *elective
- 1 Cup Grape Tomatoes, chopped
- 2 Tablespoons Italian Flat Leaf Parsley, minced
- 1 Tablespoon Basil, minced
- 1/2 Cup Feta
- Salt and Pepper, to style
- 1/3 Cup Purple Onion, minced
- 1 Tablespoon Purple Wine Vinegar
Forestall your display screen from going darkish
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We favor to make use of hen or vegetable inventory as an alternative of water for the quinoa. Put together the quinoa in accordance with bundle instructions:Rinse the quinoa after which add with the water in a medium saucepan.
2 Cups Tri Coloration Quinoa
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Deliver the combination to a boil over medium excessive warmth, then flip to low for a delicate simmer. Prepare dinner, uncovered, till the quinoa has absorbed the entire water, about quarter-hour.
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Take away from warmth, cowl, and let the quinoa relaxation for five minutes, to present it time to fluff up. Put aside to chill.
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Whereas the quinoa cooks, mix the crimson onions and crimson wine vinegar in order that the onions get barely pickled.
1 Tablespoon Purple Wine Vinegar, 1/3 Cup Purple Onion
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Whisk collectively the entire dressing elements and put aside.
1/4 Cup Olive Oil, 1/2 Lemon, 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice, 1 Tablespoon Prosecco Vinegar, Pinch Salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons Honey, 1 Clove Garlic
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In a big bowl, add the quinoa, chopped veggies, pickled onions (drained from the vinegar), beans, herbs and feta. Pour within the dressing and toss to coat nicely.
1 Cup Spinach, 1 Cup Cucumber, 1/3 Cup Mung Beans, 1 Cup Grape Tomatoes, 2 Tablespoons Italian Flat Leaf Parsley, 1 Tablespoon Basil, 1/2 Cup Feta, 1/3 Cup Purple Onion
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Season with salt and pepper to style after which set within the fridge for at the very least 10 minutes to maximise taste. If that you must do longer, simply wait to decorate the salad till proper earlier than serving because the quinoa does take in quite a lot of the dressing.
Salt and Pepper
White balsamic or white wine vinegar will work in a pinch
Energy: 286kcal
Really helpful Merchandise
