Vibrant Mediterranean flavors are packed into this recent and wholesome quinoa salad – spinach, tomato, cucumber, feta, pink onion all tossed with recent herbs and a candy and tangy selfmade dressing. It’s a good summer time salad!
Years in the past we had a blogger lunch with all the 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 respectable however lacked slightly 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 grow to be not solely the finest quinoa salad however considered one of my favourite summer time facet salads interval.
Learn how to Make Quinoa Salad Video
What’s Quinoa?
Quinoa is technically the seed of a plant, however it’s labeled as an entire grain. It’s a nice supply of plant protein and fiber.
Substances for Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
Here’s a temporary overview of the substances you have to to make this tasty summer time salad and the selfmade salad dressing to go together with it…
- Tri Colour Quinoa: You should utilize any quinoa that you really want. I simply love the way in which this appears to be like within the dish.
- Spinach: Seize some recent spinach and chop it up! It provides nice colour, taste and vitamins!
- Cucumber: We desire English cucumbers so that you don’t must peel them and they’re much less seedy.
- Mung Beans: That is completely optionally available however I really like the feel of beans in a salad and they’re an important 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 suggest recent, however if you wish to use dried, add solely 2 teaspoons.
- Basil: I solely suggest 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 pink onions whilst 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 for those who can’t discover, I’ve a listing of substitutes beneath.
- Salt: enhances all of the flavors
- Honey: provides pure sweetness to steadiness the acidity of the lemons and vinegar
- Garlic: provides taste
The measurements for all these substances will be discovered within the recipe card on the finish of this put up.
What are Substitutes for Prosecco Vinegar?
In case you can’t discover Prosecco vinegar, another varieties of vinegar will even work. Our greatest solutions are champagne vinegar, white wine vinegar, white balsamic vinegar, pink wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar.
Recipe Variations
This recipe may be very versatile and substances will be swapped out or added. Listed here are some concepts for additions:
- Asparagus
- Bell Peppers
- Avocados
- Peas
You could possibly additionally add some protein to make a hearty meal out of this salad. Our straightforward grilled hen could be scrumptious!
Causes to Love This Recipe
- Simple: The substances are straightforward to search out and the recipe is easy 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 use 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 received’t discover a tastier method to have all these issues!
- Make forward: It is 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 all the things 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 principal dish. It’s also nice as an appetizer, facet dish or mild lunch. If you wish to hold it as a salad on the facet, listed here are some concepts of nice principal 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 suppose you should have leftover, solely add dressing to the portion that you just suppose you’ll eat after which save the remainder to mix later. This salad doesn’t freeze nicely.
Quinoa is a superb grain to make use of in salads, and I adore it paired with all these recent Mediterranean flavors! This quinoa salad goes to considered one of your favourite summer time salad recipes!
Extra Scrumptious Quinoa Recipes to Strive:
Salad
- 2 Cups Tri Colour Quinoa, cooked
- 1 Cup Spinach, chopped
- 1 Cup Cucumber, chopped into small items
- 1/3 Cup Mung Beans, ready, Bob’s Purple Mill *optionally available
- 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
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We desire to make use of hen or vegetable inventory as an alternative of water for the quinoa. Put together the quinoa in keeping with package deal instructions:Rinse the quinoa after which add with the water in a medium saucepan.
2 Cups Tri Colour Quinoa
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Convey 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 all the 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 pink onions and pink 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 all the dressing substances 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 least 10 minutes to maximise taste. If it’s essential to do longer, simply wait to decorate the salad till proper earlier than serving because the quinoa does take up a variety of the dressing.
Salt and Pepper
White balsamic or white wine vinegar will work in a pinch
Energy: 286kcal
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