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Fresh Healthy Quinoa Salad

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A quick, easy, and nutritious quinoa salad packed with fresh veggies, herbs, and a bright lemon-herb dressing. Perfect for lunches, light dinners, or meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (185g) uncooked quinoa, rinsed thoroughly
  • 1 medium cucumber, diced
  • 1 cup (150g) cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 small red bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced (optional)
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 cup (75g) feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
  • 1/4 cup toasted almonds or walnuts, chopped

Instructions

  1. Rinse the quinoa under cold running water for about 30 seconds using a fine mesh sieve to remove bitterness.
  2. Cook the quinoa in a medium saucepan with 2 cups (475ml) of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes until water is absorbed.
  3. Remove from heat, fluff quinoa with a fork, and let cool to room temperature (about 10 minutes).
  4. Dice cucumber, halve cherry tomatoes, finely chop red bell pepper, mince red onion (if using), and chop parsley and mint.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste.
  6. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled quinoa, chopped veggies, herbs, and toasted nuts. Pour dressing over and toss gently to coat evenly.
  7. Crumble feta cheese on top and toss gently again. Check seasoning and adjust salt or lemon juice if desired.
  8. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to let flavors meld. Salad can be served chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

Avoid overcooking quinoa to prevent gumminess. Always rinse quinoa to remove bitterness. Use a fork to fluff quinoa instead of a spoon. Salad tastes better after chilling for a couple of hours. Adjust salt and lemon juice to taste, especially if adding feta cheese.

Nutrition

Keywords: quinoa salad, healthy salad, easy salad recipe, vegetarian, gluten-free, quick lunch, nutritious meal

Find it online: https://lucydishes.com/fresh-healthy-quinoa-salad-recipe-easy-nutritious-meals-in-10-minutes/