Looking for a filling salad recipe that you can prep ahead? This healthy Mediterranean quinoa salad recipe is perfect for lunch or for a refreshing summer dinner and can be easily stored in the fridge for a few days. So good!
I am sure you know by now that I am obsessed with nourishing recipes that are easy to make and taste ridiculously delicious.
This quinoa salad is no exception.
And you are in for a proper treat: it’s refreshing, hearty, crunchy, and filled with plant-based protein.
You can throw it together in less than 30 minutes.
All you have to do is to wash and chop some seasonal and colorful veggies while the quinoa cooks. It’s that easy!
I alternate this for lunch with some of my other favorite lunch bowls, like this easy hummus bowl, this chickpea Buddha bowl, and these insanely cute bento boxes.
How to make this Mediterranean quinoa salad
What I love about this recipe is that it uses fresh summer seasonal ingredients, plus some staples we normally have in the kitchen, like quinoa, olives, and chickpeas.
It comes together in 4 simple steps:
- Cook the quinoa.
- While the quinoa cooks, wash and chop all the veggies.
- Make the dressing.
- Once the quinoa has cooled for 5-10 minutes, add the veggies and the dressing, and toss the salad.
All you have left to do now, it’s to eat it!
What makes this quinoa salad tastes like summer is the addition of fresh chopped basil in the dressing. Every time I eat this, it reminds me of the basil that used to grow in my grandma’s garden in Italy.
Plus, cucumber and fresh bell peppers make it crunchy and refreshing at the same time.
I love eating this Mediterranean quinoa salad for lunch or dinner on its own. But you can also serve it as a small side salad with some grilled fish, chicken, or tofu.
Depending on how hungry you are, these ingredients will serve 2-3 people if you eat it as a main or up to 4-6 people for a side salad.
How to meal prep it
This quinoa salad is perfect for meal prep or for a summer picnic in the park. I love to store it in these beautiful jars and take it with me on our days out.
What I love about preparing this salad in advance is that quinoa keeps its consistency well for a few days in the refrigerator. Plus, the more you leave it in the fridge, the more the dressing and the veggies will infuse to create a well-rounded delicious combination of flavors.
You can keep this salad in jars or in an airtight container like this in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. It’s perfect served at room temperature or cold straight out of the fridge if it’s a hot summer day.
Another tip if you want to prepare dinner or lunch at the last minute is to cook your quinoa in advance and keep it in the fridge until you are ready to use it.
This ensures that your veggies won’t warm up when you mix them. If you are using pre-cooked quinoa, you will need around 3 cups.
Extra tips
Mix it up: I love this refreshing salad as it is, but you can add your favorite ingredients to it. If you have any other leftover veggies in the refrigerator, feel free to get inventive. You can add black beans, green beans, carrots, and avocado, and also sprinkle some feta cheese on top (if you are not vegan or on a dairy-free diet).
To rinse or not to rinse? Most recipes mention rinsing quinoa before cooking it. This is because quinoa grains are coated with a substance called saponin, which can taste a bit soapy or bitter to some people. If you are sensitive to it, then keep rinsing your quinoa. Plus, a lot of quinoa sold these days has been pre-rinsed. Checking your package can help you save time.
Spice it up: The dressing in this salad is refreshing and tangy, thanks to the apple cider vinegar and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Plus, basil gives it the taste of summer. But you can use any other ingredients in the dressing. If I am in the mood for some spices, I love to add a bit of oregano and chili flakes as well.
More healthy lunch recipes:
- Mediterranean Lunch Box
- Mexican Quinoa
- Refreshing Spring Salad
- Easy Hummus Bowl
- Chickpea Buddha Bowl
- Tofu Poke Bowl
More Salads You’ll Love
- Delicious Fennel Salad
- Refreshing Spring Salad
- Panzanella
- Radicchio Salad
- Healthy Potato Salad (No Eggs)
- Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
- Protein Salad Meal Prep
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
For the quinoa salad:
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained - (15 ounces)
- 1 medium red onion
- 1 medium yellow bell pepper
- 1 medium cucumber
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup kalamata olives, cut in half
For the dressing:
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- The juice of 1 large lemon
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup basil leaves
Instructions
- Rinse the quinoa in a fine-mesh colander. Combine it with 2 cups of water in a saucepan. Add half a teaspoon of salt. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and let it cook for about 15 minutes until the quinoa has absorbed all the water. Remove from the heat, cover, and let it rest for 5 minutes to make it become soft and fluffy.
- Wash all the veggies then chop the red onion, cucumber, and yellow bell pepper into small chunks. Cut the cherry tomatoes and black olives in half. Drain the chickpeas and rinse them well. If using cooked chickpeas, you'll need around 1 1/2 cup.
- While the quinoa cools a bit, prepare the dressing. Squeeze one lemon, and finely chop the basil leaves. In a small bowl or a small jar combine the extra-virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, basil, the juice of one lemon, and apple cider vinegar. Whisk or shake well until blended.
- Add the quinoa to a serving bowl, then add the chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, red onions, cucumber, yellow bell pepper, and black olives and drizzle the dressing on top. Mix well, taste, and add more salt and pepper if needed.
- If you have time, let it rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow the dressing to infuse the salad with its fresh summery taste.This salad is great served at room temperature, or you can prepare it in advance and serve it chilled.
Notes
How to store Quinoa Salad
You can keep this salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. It’s perfect served at room temperature, or cold straight out of the fridge if it’s a hot summer day. This quinoa salad is perfect for meal prep or for a summer picnic in the park. I love to store it in these beautiful jars and take it with me on our days out.How to eat Quinoa Salad
I love eating this quinoa salad for lunch or dinner on its own. It’s filling and naturally packed with good proteins from the quinoa and chickpeas. If you are going to eat it as your main, these ingredients will be enough for 2-3 people. But you can also serve it as a small side salad with some fish, chicken or tofu.Mix it up
I love this refreshing salad as it is, but feel free to mix it up and add your favorite ingredients to it. If you have any other leftover veggies in the refrigerator, feel free to get inventive. You can add black beans, green beans, avocado, sundried tomatoes, and also sprinkle some feta cheese on top.Nutrition
Did you make this recipe? Tag @gatheringdreams on Instagram. I want to see it!
Kayleigh says
Really good! added a bit of Greek yogurt and sour cream to the sauce, excluded the olives (personal aversion), added spinach and lettuce. was good paired with pork loin (I’d imagine chicken would be good too), goat cheese, and wrap style in a tortilla. looking forward to leftovers!
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
Yeah, Kayleigh! So happy you loved this!
Cindy says
Hi! This looks delicious. What is the serving size for the 375 calories? Thanks for sharing!
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
Hey Cindy,
That’s for dividing the salad into 4 servings 🙂