Who’s Ready For Salad Season?
Me, me, me! This time of year, we are ready to turn off our ovens and turn on our grills. This video cannot be played because of a technical error. We want quick recipes with bright fresh flavors instead of heavy slow-cooked comfort foods. We want to make the most of late spring and summer produce… And we want our foods to be cool and colorful. Who’s with me? It’s salad season. Yet that doesn’t mean you can’t still prep ahead for the week!
Meal Prep Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas
Right now I crave big hearty salads. The kind that can either be served as a side dish with grilled chicken and steak, or on their own as a veggie-heavy meal. Summer produce is so fresh and crisp, it’s a bonus to be able to make big chunky salads that last in the refrigerator for several days, as opposed to limp green salads that turn slimy on day two. That way, the leftovers can be used as meal prep for the week. Today’s hearty protein-packed salad is a dream make-ahead!
What Ingredients You Will Need
This simple Mediterranean salad made great ingredients that will keep you satisfied all day.
For the Mediterranean Quinoa Salad:
Dried Quinoa – I used red and white quinoaCan of Chickpeas – rinsed and drainedPitted Kalamata Olives – drainedEnglish Cucumber – cut into chunksGrape Tomatoes – halvedLarge Bell Pepper – seeded and choppedCrumbled Feta CheeseFresh Chopped Mint LeavesChopped Red Onion
For the Vinaigrette:
Extra Virgin Olive OilRed Wine Vinegar – or lemon juice could be substitutedDried OreganoGround CuminGarlic Powder – or 2 minced garlic clovesSalt and Pepper
It’s bold and healthy, with generous pieces of cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, and bell peppers, mingled with fresh mint leaves. All the flavors and textures represented make our Mediterranean Quinoa Salad so inviting, even the pickiest salad eaters will love it. Plus, the perky red wine vinaigrette is the perfect finish to tie all the ingredients together.
How Do You Make a Mediterranean Quinoa Salad Recipe?
This quinoa salad recipe is so simple to make… See how easy that was? You can totally do this!
Get the Full (Printable) Chunky Mediterranean Salad Recipe Below. Enjoy!
Is Quinoa On The Mediterranean Diet?
Yes! Quinoa is packed with protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It’s super (food) healthy and will keep you feeling full.
Is Quinoa Salad Healthy?
Yes, this one is! Unless you load your quinoa salad down with fatty processed ingredients, it should be very healthy. This quinoa salad has all sorts of nourishing ingredients in it.
Do You Have To Soak Quinoa Before Cooking?
No. Quinoa is so small, just a quick boil is all that is needed. When it’s ready, the outer spiral will release from the seed, and it will look fluffy.
Can I Leave Out The Feta Cheese?
Yes. Omitting the feta makes this a vegan recipe.
Is Quinoa Gluten Free?
Yes. quinoa is a seed, not a grain, and it does not contain gluten. None of the ingredients in this recipe contain gluten either, so it is completely gluten-free!
How Long Does This Recipe Last?
You can make this Mediterranean Quinoa Salad up to a week in advance.
More Amazing Summer Salad Recipes
Peach Basil Salad RecipeTortellini Salad with Basil Vinaigrette RecipeGarlic Lime Roasted Shrimp Salad RecipeThai Red Curry Chicken Salad RecipeBrazilian Chopped Salad RecipeThai Quinoa Salad RecipeVietnamese Cold Chicken Salad Recipe
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