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Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

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Created by Mariam Ezzeddine
This Easy Mediterranean Quinoa Salad is packed with protein and loaded with fresh Mediterranean flavors. It's a hearty and healthy salad brimming with cucumbers, sun dried tomatoes, kalamata olives, onion, avocado, fresh lemon and mozzarella cheese - so good!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings 6 servings
servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup quinoa uncooked
  • 1/2 cup sundried tomatoes petite diced, in oil
  • 1/2 cup Kalamata olives
  • 1/4 cup purple onion petite diced
  • 1 cup cucumber sliced
  • 1/2 cup red bell pepper petite diced
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 cup mozzarella pearls or diced mozzarella
  • 1 large avocado cubed

Marinade

  • 1 large lemon juiced
  • 1 tbsp. red wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic minced
  • 1 tsp oregano dry
  • 1/2 tsp basil dry
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper freshly cracked
  • 1/4 tsp chili flakes optional

Instructions

  • Cook the quinoa according to package directions.
  • Meanwhile, cut/dice all your veggies. Add them into a shallow bowl.
  • In a small jar or bowl, mix the marinade ingredients. Once the quinoa has cooked and cooled down a little, combine the quinoa, marinade and veggies together (without the cheese and avocado) and toss well.
  • Once that step is done, add the mozzarella pearls and diced avocado in. Toss gently to coat well.
  • Transfer to a dish and serve.

Notes

  • Make sure to rinse your quinoa before cooking it, this removes the bitterness.
  • When cooking quinoa, you can add a couple of pinches of kosher salt to the water to flavor the grain as it cooks. 
  • You can use a rice cooker for the quinoa, make sure to use the same liquid-to-quinoa ratio and follow the instructions on your rice cooker.
  • Cool you quinoa down in the fridge, if you like, before adding other ingredients, so it doesn't heat up the other ingredients.
  • You can use mozzarella pearls or diced mozzarella.
  • You can swap sundried tomatoes for fresh, diced tomatoes.
  • If you like a slightly more tangy hit to the salad, swap mozzarella for crumbled feta.
  • For an extra pop of freshness, top this Easy Quinoa Salad with fresh cilantro or parsley.
  • Taste for salt and adjust as needed, add more lemon juice too, if needed.

Nutrition

Calories: 341kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 413mg | Potassium: 755mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1024IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 3mg
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