This Mediterranean Quinoa Salad is a stunning recipe.
This quinoa chickpea salad combines all of my favorite flavors together in one scrumptious dish! Mouthwatering Mediterranean flavors like kalamata olives, crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes and more!
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
I am simply in love with Mediterranean flavors. Whether, I am eating them with pasta, in a salad, with some quinoa or more. Who doesn’t love a fresh and delicious Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl?
My go-to salad: Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
There is just something fresh and delicious when it comes to Mediterranean inspired food. I am happy to share with you today, one of my go-to Mediterranean Quinoa Recipes!
This side dish is literally ready in 15 minutes. No need for the food processor or other kitchen equipment for this dish!
What are Mediterranean flavors?
That is a great question that I bet many of you are asking! Typically this cuisine involves foods like olive oil, basil, cucumbers, dill, feta cheese, olives, mint and more!
Do I have your belly rumbling yet with all those amazing and delicious ingredients? I know I am getting hungry!
What is quinoa?
Quinoa is a plant that flowers. It is a naturally gluten-free type of seed/grain that belongs to the amaranth family. It is not a grass but is grown as a grain crop for its edible seeds.
Did you know that quinoa is actually a complete protein? This is great for vegetarians and vegans!
Is Quinoa Healthy?
Yes! They are chock full of nutrients and gluten-free. Quinoa is rich in:
- protein
- fiber
- Vitamin B
- Iron
- Magnesium
How do you pronounce quinoa?
Let’s be honest, this is a word that often is pronounced incorrectly or people avoid it altogether! It is actually pronounced: keen-wah
Tips on how to cook quinoa properly
- Rinse quinoa before using
- Use proper ratio of dry quinoa to water when cooking (1 cup quinoa to 2 cups water)
- Use a fork to fluff
- Use a rice cooker (if available)
Ingredients For This Mediterranean Quinoa Salad Recipe
- Cooked Quinoa
- Kalamata Olives
- Chickpeas
- Red Onion
- Grape Tomatoes
- Cucumber
- Bell Pepper
- Parsley
- Lemon Juice
- Avocado Oil (or other oil of your choice)
- White wine vinegar
How to make Quinoa Salad
Let’s get down to business and make our vegetarian and gluten-free recipe. I do not know about you, but I am getting hungry!
- Prepare your quinoa. You are going to first prepare the quinoa per the instructions on the dry quinoa package. Typically, it involves 1 cup of quinoa and 2 cups of water. Then you usually bring to a boil, reduce heat or remove from heat, cover with a lid and let it steam. If your package doesn’t have easy instructions, you open up a google page and give it a search.
- Soak your onions. Not so into the “bite” that red onions bring to recipes? Have no fear! Dice your red onions and soak in water for 5 minutes. By soaking your red onions, you take away some of the bite! Drain the water and toss the onions into your recipe!
- Prepare the rest of your ingredients. While your quinoa is cooking you can prepare a large bowl with your fresh ingredients. In that bowl, add in the kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, parsley, red onion, bell pepper and cooked chickpeas.
- Combine it all together. You are going to combine the cooked quinoa and the bowl of fresh ingredients. Give the ingredients a big stir to combine.
- Add a little lemon. For this quinoa salad recipe, I used a fresh lemon! I love adding fresh lemon juice to recipes. If you are a huge lemon lover, feel free to zest the lemon and add to the dish! Take 2 T of that fresh lemon juice and drizzle it onto the quinoa salad. Stir the ingredients to blend well.
- Make your homemade salad dressing. Next up, you are going to whip together the easy homemade salad dressing. Combine your oil of choice with some white wine vinegar and some salt and pepper! Whisk to combine and drizzle onto the salad! Want to try something else? Try it with this Thai Salad Dressing.
Feeling a little sassy? You are easily sub out the oil for balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar! Your tastebuds, your choice! If you are a huge quinoa fan, you need to check out Best Quinoa Salad Recipe from my friend Erin's site! I also think that this quinoa salad pairs well with this Vegan Soup.
Ingredient Substitutes for Chickpea Quinoa Salad
- Not loving some of the ingredients in this recipe? I understand! Check out some of these easy subs!
- Sub Zucchini for Cucumber (sometimes cucumbers get soggy)
- Sub in or add Snap Peas
- Meat eater? Add sardines or anchovies for meat eaters
- Love cheese? Add in Gorgonzola or Feta
- Love herbs? Add in some fresh fill!
How long will Mediterranean Quinoa Salad keep?
This salad recipe will keep for 2-3 days in the fridge! Just put into an airtight container and you are set! Because this recipe keeps for a few days, it makes it a great option for lunch prep! Make this ahead of time and then your lunch is ready for days!
What is the portion size?
This chickpea quinoa salad makes a lot. With the chickpeas and quinoa you get that punch of protein. I would recommend a portion size of 1 cup for this recipe!
More Mediterranean Recipes you might like:
- Mediterranean Bruschetta
- Mediterranean Hummus Bowl
- Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
- Mediterranean Pasta Casserole
- Mediterranean Rice Bowl
Let's Make This Mediterranean Quinoa Salad Recipe
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa cooked
- ½ cup kalamata olives halved
- 1 can chickpeas drained and rinsed, cooked
- ½ cup red onion diced and soaked for 5 minutes, drained
- 1.5 cups grape tomatoes halved
- 1.5 cups cucumber diced
- 1 cup bell pepper stem and seeds removed, diced
- ⅓ cup fresh parsley
- 2 T fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup avocado oil or oil of your choice
- 2 T White wine vinegar
- salt and pepper if needed
Instructions
- You are going to first prepare the quinoa per the instructions on the dry quinoa package. Typically, it involves 1 cup of quinoa and 2 cups of water. Then you usually bring to a boil, reduce heat or remove from heat, cover with a lid and let it steam. If your package doesn’t have easy instructions, you open up a google page and give it a search.
- While your quinoa is cooking you can prepare a large bowl with your fresh ingredients. In that bowl, add in the kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, parsley, red onion, bell pepper and cooked chickpeas.
- Combine the cooked quinoa and the bowl of fresh ingredients. Give the ingredients a big stir to combine.
- Take that fresh lemon juice and drizzle it onto the quinoa salad. Stir the ingredients to blend well.
- Next up, you are going to whip together the easy homemade salad dressing. Combine your oil of choice with some white wine vinegar and some salt and pepper! Whisk to combine and drizzle onto the salad!
- ENJOY!
Notes
Ingredient Substitutes for Chickpea Quinoa Salad
- Not loving some of the ingredients in this recipe? I understand! Check out some of these easy subs!
- Sub Zucchini for Cucumber (sometimes cucumbers get soggy)
- Sub in or add Snap Peas
- Meat eater? Add sardines or anchovies for meat eaters
- Love cheese? Add in Gorgonzola or Feta
- Love herbs? Add in some fresh fill!
Tips on how to cook quinoa properly
- Rinse quinoa before using
- Use proper ratio of dry quinoa to water when cooking (1 cup quinoa to 2 cups water)
- Use a fork to fluff
- Use a rice cooker (if available)
How long will Mediterranean Quinoa Salad keep?
This salad recipe will keep for 2-3 days in the fridge! Just put into an airtight container and you are set! Because this recipe keeps for a few days, it makes it a great option for lunch prep! Make this ahead of time and then your lunch is ready for days!Nutrition
Let's talk! Leave me a comment below telling me if you love Mediterranean flavors too! Are you a fan of chickpeas?
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This salad looks lovely and both bright, hearty but not too heavy.
My boyfriend pronounces it kwin-o-uh. Lol This looks delicious for summer--provided my garden survives this hailstorm we're having!
This is totally my kind of salad. I can happily eat it all day long. In fact i'm working of a Mediterranean recipe for my blog right now, and I can't seem to get enough of it already
Always after some new salad ideas. Quinoa is a great idea. KP doesn't like it so I could sprinkle into my portion only.
Do u have a favorite recipe for Thai salad dressing? Ans, in response to the question about chickpeas, love them, but more so as hummus dip.
Hello Anna! 🙂 Chickpeas as a hummus are delish. For a Thai Salad dressing, I usually mix some creamy Peanut Butter (or sunbutter) with some coconut aminos (or soy sauce) and a dash or sriracha 🙂