Favorite Quinoa Salad (Print View)
Bright quinoa, tomatoes, cucumber, herbs and lemon-Dijon dressing — ready in 30 minutes for lunches, picnics, or sides.
# What You Need:
→ Grains
01 - 1 cup uncooked quinoa
02 - 2 cups water
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
05 - 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
→ Fresh Herbs
07 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
→ Dairy (optional)
09 - 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled
→ Dressing
10 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
12 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
13 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
14 - Salt and black pepper to taste
# How-To Steps:
01 - Rinse quinoa thoroughly under cold water using a fine-mesh strainer. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan, add quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until all liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and let cool to room temperature.
02 - While the quinoa cools, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until well emulsified.
03 - In a large salad bowl, combine the cooled quinoa, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced red bell pepper, finely chopped red onion, chopped parsley, and chopped mint.
04 - Pour the prepared lemon dressing over the salad and toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Add crumbled feta cheese if desired and toss lightly. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
06 - Serve immediately at room temperature or refrigerate for 30 minutes for a chilled version. Pair with grilled fish or chicken if desired.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The lemon Dijon dressing is the kind of thing you will want to put on everything once you taste it.
- It holds up beautifully in the fridge, which means you can make it ahead and actually enjoy your day instead of cooking.
02 -
- Skip the rinse and your quinoa will taste like soap, which I learned the hard way at a dinner party I desperately wanted to impress.
- Letting the dressed salad sit in the fridge for even twenty minutes transforms the flavor completely as the grains absorb the lemon and garlic.
03 -
- Toast the quinoa in a dry pan for two minutes before adding water and it develops a nutty depth that elevates the entire dish.
- Make a double batch of the dressing and keep it in a jar in the fridge for quick salads throughout the week.