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mediterranean quinoa salad on two plates
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Easy Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Mix up this grain salad to have lunches prepped for the week for yourself, or to have a dinner side or vegetarian main dish to share with the family.
Course Salad
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 350kcal

Ingredients

Quinoa Salad

  • 2 cups fully cooked quinoa
  • 14.5 ounce can chickpeas
  • 1 cup cucumber, diced (from about 1 medium cucumber)
  • ½ cup shredded carrot (from about 1 medium carrot)
  • ½ cup crumbled feta (or diced mozzarella or cheddar)
  • ¼ cup roasted sunflower seeds

Lemon Vinaigrette

  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (from 1 fresh lemon)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon zest (from 1 fresh lemon)
  • cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano (optional)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground pepper

Instructions

  • Prepare quinoa according to the package directions. (It's usually a 2:1 water to quinoa ratio.) Let cool slightly or fully. You can do this step up to a day ahead.
  • Mix together the quinoa, chickpeas, cucumber, carrot, feta, and sunflower seeds in a large bowl.
  • To make the dressing, stir together the lemon zest and juice, olive oil, Dijon, oregano (if using), salt, and pepper. Toss into the salad and mix thoroughly. Serve or store for later.

Notes

  • Serve immediately or store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • Add strawberries, blueberries or sliced apples or pears to this salad if serving to kids if you think they might need more enticement to try it.
  • Serve the different ingredients next to each other if your kids prefer their food side-by-side.
  • Toss the salad well to ensure that the dressing coats the ingredients well.
  • Season to taste with salt to ensure that it's the right level for your own particular taste buds.

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 500mg | Potassium: 370mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1872IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 118mg | Iron: 3mg