Quinoa Salad Recipe: A Refreshing Summer Dish

Quinoa salad is a refreshing and versatile dish that can be enjoyed throughout the year. This recipe serves as an excellent side or main course, making it perfect for various occasions.

The cooking time for this quinoa salad is approximately 25 minutes, including the time to prepare the ingredients and assemble everything together. You will need to make enough for 4 servings.

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa
• 3 cups water or vegetable broth
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped (optional)
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Feta cheese, crumbled (optional)

Instructions

Begin by rinsing the quinoa under cold water. Drain well in a fine-mesh sieve or strainer.

In a medium saucepan over high heat, combine the water and the rinsed quinoa. Bring to a boil before reducing the heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes until all the water has been absorbed. If you are using vegetable broth instead of water, continue cooking it in the same manner.

While the quinoa is cooking, prepare the other ingredients. Dice the cucumber and red onion finely; chop parsley and mint if desired. Set aside these prepared vegetables for later use.

Once your quinoa has finished cooking, spread it out on a flat surface to cool completely. Once cooled, mix in the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, parsley, and mint into the bowl with the cooked quinoa. Gently toss everything together until all components are evenly distributed throughout the salad.

Next, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small container or directly within the large mixing bowl containing the prepared ingredients. Pour this mixture over the quinoa salad and gently fold to coat every grain of quinoa with dressing while ensuring that all other ingredients are well incorporated as well.

To finish off your dish, sprinkle some crumbled feta cheese over top if you prefer adding a bit more flavor or texture to your salad. This is optional but highly recommended for those who enjoy the taste and aroma provided by this ingredient. Serve immediately after adding feta so that it doesn’t get soggy.

Nutritional Information

This dish provides a good source of dietary fiber, protein, vitamins B6, C & E, magnesium, iron, copper and manganese from both quinoa itself as well as additional vegetables used in this recipe. It also contains healthy fats like those found in olive oil which help support brain health among other benefits.

The calorie count may vary slightly depending on how much feta cheese was added but typically comes out around 350 calories per serving if no extra additions were made besides the listed ingredients.

Conclusion

Quinoa salad is not only delicious but also incredibly nutritious. Its versatility allows it to be adapted into numerous variations according to individual preferences, dietary needs or seasonal availability of produce. Whether served chilled or at room temperature, this dish remains delightful and satisfying for any meal.