Quinoa Salad
Bright, refreshing, and packed with vibrant veggies, this Quinoa Salad is a wholesome and flavor-packed dish perfect for any season. Featuring fluffy, protein-rich quinoa as the base, it's elevated with crunchy cucumber, sweet cherry tomatoes, crisp red bell pepper, and aromatic fresh herbs like parsley and mint. A simple yet zesty dressing made with olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic ties everything together for a light yet satisfying salad that's gluten-free, vegetarian, and full of nutrients. Ready in just 30 minutes, this versatile recipe is perfect as a healthy side dish, light lunch, or meal prep option. Serve it chilled or at room temperature for a burst of freshness in every bite!
Log this recipe in SnapCalorie
Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2 cups water
- 1 medium cucumber
- 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 medium red bell pepper
- 0.5 medium red onion
- 0.5 cup fresh parsley
- 0.25 cup fresh mint leaves
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Rinse the quinoa under cold water using a fine-mesh sieve to remove any bitterness.
In a medium pot, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add the quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the quinoa is tender and the water is absorbed.
Fluff the cooked quinoa with a fork and let it cool to room temperature.
While the quinoa is cooling, dice the cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and red bell pepper into bite-sized pieces. Finely chop the red onion, parsley, and mint leaves.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled quinoa, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, red onion, parsley, and mint.
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine all the ingredients evenly.
Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. You may add more lemon juice, salt, or pepper to taste.
Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. Enjoy chilled or at room temperature!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
547 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 44.0 g | 56% | |
| Saturated Fat | 6.7 g | 34% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 1241 mg | 54% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 36.7 g | 13% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 12.6 g | 45% | |
| Total Sugars | 17.4 g | ||
| Protein | 8.3 g | 17% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 318 mg | 24% | |
| Iron | 9.0 mg | 50% | |
| Potassium | 1584 mg | 34% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
