Go Back
A fresh quinoa salad with colorful vegetables

Vibrant Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

A refreshing and healthy Mediterranean Quinoa Salad packed with fresh vegetables, chickpeas, and a tangy lemon Dijon dressing.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • Instant Pot or Rice Cooker
  • Mixing Bowls
  • Cutting Board
  • Knife
  • Whisk

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients

  • 1 cup Quinoa
  • 2 cups Vegetable Broth or Water
  • 1 pint Cherry Tomatoes halved
  • 1 Cucumber diced
  • 1 Bell Pepper finely diced
  • 1/4 cup Red Onion finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Herbs chopped
  • 1 Canned Chickpeas rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 cup Feta Cheese crumbled (optional)

Dressing

  • 1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 2 tablespoons Lemon Juice
  • 1 tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
  • 1 Garlic minced
  • Salt to taste
  • Black Pepper to taste

Instructions
 

Cooking Quinoa

  • Rinse quinoa thoroughly under cold water. Cook quinoa in an Instant Pot or rice cooker with vegetable broth or water according to appliance instructions.

Prepare Vegetables

  • While quinoa cooks, chop cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, and red onion. Rinse and drain the canned chickpeas.

Make Dressing

  • In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified.

Assemble Salad

  • Transfer cooked and cooled quinoa to a large mixing bowl. Add the prepped vegetables, rinsed chickpeas, and fresh herbs.
  • Pour the dressing over the quinoa mixture and toss gently to coat everything evenly. Gently fold in crumbled feta cheese, if desired.

Serve

  • Serve the salad warm, at room temperature, or chilled. Optionally, garnish with toasted sunflower seeds or slivered almonds before serving for added crunch.

Notes

This salad can be made ahead of time and is great for meal prep. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.