Best 3 Skinny Mediterranean Quinoa Salad Recipes

MEDITERRANEAN QUINOA SALAD

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad image

An easy to make light salad that can be served with or without chicken for vegetarians.

Provided by Coulter

Categories Salad Grains Quinoa Salad Recipes

Time 35m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

2 cups water
2 cubes chicken bouillon
1 clove garlic, smashed
1 cup uncooked quinoa
2 large cooked chicken breasts - cut into bite size pieces
1 large red onion, diced
1 large green bell pepper, diced
½ cup chopped kalamata olives
½ cup crumbled feta cheese
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup chopped fresh chives
½ teaspoon salt
⅔ cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
¼ cup olive oil

Steps:

Bring the water, bouillon cubes, and garlic to a boil in a saucepan. Stir in the quinoa, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender and the water has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Discard the garlic clove and scrape the quinoa into a large bowl.
Gently stir the chicken, onion, bell pepper, olives, feta cheese, parsley, chives, and salt into the quinoa. Drizzle with the lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil. Stir until evenly mixed. Serve warm or refrigerate and serve cold.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 278.4 calories, Carbohydrate 20.1 g, Cholesterol 44.6 mg, Fat 13.9 g, Fiber 2.4 g, Protein 18.4 g, SaturatedFat 3.2 g, Sodium 713.1 mg, Sugar 2.5 g

MEDITERRANEAN QUINOA SALAD

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad image

Very tasty side dish - especially for barbecues! (It can be made a day ahead) - To make it a complete vegan meal, just add chickpeas or baked/grilled tofu chunks. Serve with (vegan)tzatziki.

Provided by Veganized

Categories One Dish Meal

Time 2h30m

Yield 4-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

1 cup quinoa or 1 cup bulgur
2 cups water
4 tablespoons orange juice, freshly squeezed
3 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 -2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar or 1 -2 tablespoon wine vinegar
1 teaspoon brown sugar or 1 teaspoon raw sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (or to taste)
salt, to taste
fresh ground black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh basil leaf
1/3 cup finely chopped sun-dried tomato
2 red onions, finely chopped or 8 -10 green onions, chopped
1 lb cherry tomatoes, cut in half
6 ounces black olives, sliced
3/4 cup pine nuts (toasted)

Steps:

Rinse quinoa in a strainer under running water and drain.
Bring water to a boil. Add quinoa and let it simmer for 10-15 minute (until water is absorbed and quinoa is translucent)
Set aside to cool. Meanwhile prepare vegetables.
Combine ingredients for the marinade, pour over cooled quinoa and stir to mix.
Add herbs and vegetables. Stir again. Sprinkle with pine nuts.
Cover and refrigerate 2-6 hours or more. (Serve at room temperature).

SKINNY MEDITERRANEAN QUINOA SALAD

Skinny Mediterranean Quinoa Salad image

If you are looking for a super healthy dish that has robust flavor and leaves your guests feeling full without guilt, this is a great accompaniment to any meal or can stand on its own as a vegetarian dish. It is vegetarian, gluten- and dairy-free.

Provided by Laura Violet

Categories Quinoa Salad

Time 5h50m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 8

Ingredients

1 eggplant, cut in half
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
3 cups water
1 ½ cups quinoa
3 large heirloom tomatoes, sliced
½ cup finely chopped fresh basil
1 lemon, juiced
½ teaspoon sea salt

Steps:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease a pie pan; place eggplant in pie pan. Sprinkle onion on top and around eggplant.
Bake in the preheated oven until eggplant is soft and browned, about 1 hour.
Bring water to a boil in a 2-quart pot. Stir in quinoa; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, until water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
Combine heirloom tomatoes, basil, lemon juice, and sea salt in a large bowl. Stir in the warm quinoa, a little at a time, until salad is combined.
Scoop out warm eggplant, in chunks, from the skin with a spoon; discard skin. Stir eggplant chunks and onion into salad. Cover with plastic wrap.
Place salad into the refrigerator; chill until flavors combine, about 4 hours.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 203.8 calories, Carbohydrate 39.1 g, Fat 3 g, Fiber 8.2 g, Protein 8.2 g, SaturatedFat 0.4 g, Sodium 159.9 mg, Sugar 5 g

Tips for Making a Perfect Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Use high-quality ingredients. The better the ingredients, the better the salad will be. Look for fresh, seasonal produce and high-quality quinoa.
Cook the quinoa perfectly. Quinoa should be cooked until it is fluffy and tender, but not mushy. Be sure to rinse the quinoa thoroughly before cooking to remove any bitterness.
Let the quinoa cool completely before adding the other ingredients. This will help to prevent the salad from becoming watery.
Add your favorite vegetables and fruits. There are endless possibilities when it comes to adding vegetables and fruits to a Mediterranean quinoa salad. Some popular options include tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, onions, olives, feta cheese, and chickpeas.
Use a flavorful dressing. A good dressing will bring all the flavors of the salad together. A simple vinaigrette or lemon-tahini dressing is a great place to start.
Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Once you have added all of the ingredients, taste the salad and adjust the seasonings as needed. You may want to add more salt, pepper, or herbs to taste.

Conclusion

A Mediterranean quinoa salad is a healthy and delicious way to enjoy the flavors of the Mediterranean diet. It is a versatile salad that can be customized to your own taste preferences. So experiment with different ingredients and dressings until you find a combination that you love.