Description
A fresh and vibrant Simple Quinoa Salad that’s easy to prepare in just 25 minutes. This gluten-free Mediterranean-inspired salad combines fluffy quinoa cooked in vegetable stock with juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, salty olives, creamy feta, and a zesty lemon-mint dressing, making it a perfect light lunch or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 200 g Quinoa
- 500 ml Vegetable stock
- 50 g Cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1/2 Cucumber (cut into thin semi-circles)
- 100 g Pitted olives (halved)
- 100 g Feta cheese
- 15 g Fresh mint
Dressing
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Juice of 2 lemons
- 6 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 tbsp Honey
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the quinoa: Rinse the quinoa thoroughly in a fine sieve under cold running water until the water runs clear to remove any bitterness.
- Cook the quinoa: Place the rinsed quinoa in a pan with the vegetable stock. Bring to a gentle simmer, then cover the pan with a lid and cook for 10-12 minutes until the quinoa is tender and has absorbed all the stock. If there is any excess liquid, drain it off.
- Make the dressing: While the quinoa cooks, whisk together the lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, honey, sea salt, and freshly ground pepper in a large bowl until well combined and seasoned to taste.
- Combine quinoa with dressing: Once the quinoa is cooked and drained, add it to the bowl with the dressing and toss thoroughly to coat. Allow the mixture to cool for about 10 minutes.
- Add remaining ingredients: Toss in the halved cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, halved olives, and crumbled feta cheese. Finally, scatter the fresh mint leaves over the top to garnish and add a refreshing flavor.
Notes
- For extra flavor, you can toast the quinoa lightly in the pan before cooking.
- The salad can be served warm or chilled depending on preference.
- Adjust the honey quantity according to desired sweetness.
- Fresh herbs like parsley or basil can be substituted or added for variation.
- This salad stores well in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
