Fresh Mediterranean Quinoa Salad with Feta and Olives
A quick, healthy, and delicious Mediterranean quinoa salad featuring fresh veggies, tangy feta, and briny olives, perfect for a light meal or side dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (170 g) dry quinoa, rinsed well
- 1 cup (150 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium cucumber (about 200 g), diced
- ½ cup (75 g) Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- ½ cup (75 g) feta cheese, crumbled
- ¼ cup (40 g) red onion, finely chopped (optional)
- ¼ cup (10 g) fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint, finely chopped (optional)
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse the quinoa under cold running water for about 30 seconds using a fine mesh strainer to remove bitterness. Drain well.
- In a medium saucepan, combine rinsed quinoa with 2 cups (480 ml) water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed.
- Remove pan from heat and keep covered for an additional 5 minutes. Fluff quinoa with a fork.
- While quinoa cooks, halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber, finely chop red onion, parsley, and mint.
- In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked quinoa, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, olives, red onion, and herbs. Pour dressing over and toss gently.
- Add crumbled feta cheese on top and toss gently once more.
- Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to let flavors meld. Stir before serving if chilled.
Notes
Rinsing quinoa is essential to remove bitterness. Fluff quinoa while warm to keep it light. Add feta just before serving to maintain texture. Salad tastes better after chilling for 30 minutes. For vegan version, omit feta or use dairy-free alternatives. Adjust seasoning to taste and add a pinch of sugar or honey if salad is too tangy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup (250 g)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 10
Keywords: quinoa salad, Mediterranean salad, healthy salad, feta cheese, olives, quick salad, vegetarian, gluten-free