Favorite Quinoa Salad Recipe
A fresh and vibrant Favorite Quinoa Salad featuring protein-packed quinoa and chickpeas, crisp cucumber, colorful bell pepper, and a zesty lemon-garlic dressing. This healthy, easy-to-make salad is perfect for a light lunch or a wholesome side dish, offering bright flavors and satisfying textures.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Quinoa
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed in a fine-mesh colander
- 2 cups water
Salad
- 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, rinsed and drained, or 1 ½ cups cooked chickpeas
- 1 medium cucumber, seeded and chopped
- 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
- ¾ cup chopped red onion (from 1 small red onion)
- 1 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley (from 1 large bunch)
Dressing
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup lemon juice (from 2 to 3 lemons)
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Quinoa: Combine the rinsed quinoa and the water in a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then decrease the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook uncovered until the quinoa has absorbed all the water, about 15 minutes, adjusting heat as needed to keep a gentle simmer. Remove from heat, cover, and let it rest for 5 minutes to fluff.
- Prepare the Salad Base: In a large serving bowl, combine chickpeas, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, and parsley. Set aside.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, and sea salt until fully blended. Set aside.
- Combine Salad: When the quinoa is mostly cooled, add it to the serving bowl with vegetables and chickpeas. Drizzle the dressing over the mixture. Toss thoroughly until well combined. Season with freshly ground black pepper and additional salt to taste. For optimal flavor, let the salad rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
- Storage and Serving: This salad keeps well covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Serve chilled or at room temperature as desired.
Notes
- Rinsing quinoa thoroughly before cooking helps remove its natural bitterness.
- Allowing the salad to rest after tossing helps flavors meld together.
- Use fresh lemon juice for the best brightness in the dressing.
- This salad is versatile—feel free to add other vegetables like cherry tomatoes or fresh herbs like mint.
- Perfect as a make-ahead dish for lunches or picnics.
Keywords: quinoa salad, chickpea salad, healthy salad, Mediterranean salad, vegetarian salad, lemon dressing, protein-packed salad
Find it online: https://kitchenbyrita.com/favorite-quinoa-salad-recipe/
