Mediterranean Quinoa Salad Recipe

Name: Mediterranean Quinoa Salad Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 4 1/2 cups cooked quinoa (1 1/2 cups uncooked); 1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed; 1/2 English cucumber, seeded and chopped; 1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes; 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper; 1/4 cup diced onion; 1/2 cup sliced Kalamata olives; 3 cups arugula; 1 garlic clove, minced; 1/4 cup olive oil; 1/4 cup lemon juice; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

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an overhead shot of a bowl of a Mediterranean inspired vegan quinoa salad recipe

Why I love this Mediterranean quinoa salad

Where do I even begin with this quinoa salad recipe? I love everything about it. The tomato-cucumber-olive combo is one of my favorites. My most popular chickpea salad with the inspiration for this recipe, and I’ve even added capers to amp up the flavor even more.

But, what I love most about this salad is that it’s perfect for a healthy meatless lunch. It’s super fresh and light, but it still has a decent amount of protein thanks to the quinoa and chickpeas making it super to fill you up and keep you satisfied.

More mediterranean inspired recipes: olive tapenade / Greek meatballs / chicken puttanesca / Italian chopped salad

a close up view of Mediterranean quinoa salad recipe

Here’s what you’ll need to make this quinoa salad recipe

a large wooden bowl filled with the quinoa salad ingredients

How to make Mediterranean quinoa salad

Prep your ingredients. If you haven’t already cooked your quinoa, get that started right away. While that’s cooking, chop you vegetables and drain/rinse your chickpeas.

Dairy Free Product Guide

Don’t waste your money trying a bunch of products. I’ve already tried them all, and I’m sharing my tried-and-true favorites.

Make the dressing. I like to use a small mason jar to mix the dressing ingredients together, but you could even do it in the bottom of your large salad bowl to save you some dishes.

Mix the salad together. Combine the cooled quinoa, with the rest of your ingredients in a large bowl. Add the dressing (if it’s not already in the bowl), and stir to coat everything evenly.

pouring the dressing over the quinoa salad

FAQ’s and tips for making this vegan quinoa salad

Is quinoa salad healthy?

Yes! It is so good for you! This Mediterranean quinoa salad is packed full of fiber, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids and so much more! It’s perfect for anyone wanting to eat a tasty and healthy meal.

How do you cook quinoa so it’s not bitter?

If not cooked or prepared properly quinoa can be bitter and hard to stomach. To avoid this simply rinse your quinoa well before cooking. Other options include toasting it or cook it in a broth for better flavor. Most boxed quinoa comes pre-rinsed, but it definitely doesn’t hurt to wash it again.

Is quinoa salad served hot or cold?

I think this salad tastes best cold, especially on a hot summer’s day. Eating it warm may cause the arugula to wilt or textures/flavors to change. As a general rule, salads are usually served cold even if one or two ingredients are warmed.

Do you have to wash canned chickpeas?

Yes, please! Washing and rinsing the canned chickpeas not only helps to reduce the sodium content by almost half but it also helps to reduce some of the gas-producing side effects and makes them easier to digest!

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