Are you craving a delicious, nutritious meal that doesn't require hours in the kitchen? Look no further! This Easy Quick Quinoa Salad is about to become your new go-to recipe that will tantalize your taste buds and impress even the pickiest eaters. Packed with fresh vegetables, zesty dressing, and protein-rich quinoa, this salad is not just a side dish – it's a complete meal that will leave you feeling satisfied and energized.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
- 2 cups water
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, diced
- 1/4 cup parsley, chopped
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse quinoa thoroughly under cold water using a fine-mesh strainer to remove any bitter coating.
- In a medium saucepan, combine rinsed quinoa with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil over high heat.
- Reduce heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer for 15 minutes or until water is completely absorbed and quinoa is tender.
- Remove quinoa from heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes to allow it to fluff up.
- While quinoa is cooling, dice cucumber, bell pepper, and red onion into small, uniform pieces.
- Chop fresh parsley finely, discarding any tough stems.
- In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to create the dressing.
- Transfer cooked quinoa to a large mixing bowl and let it cool to room temperature.
- Add diced vegetables and chopped parsley to the quinoa.
- Pour prepared dressing over the salad and gently toss to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld together before serving.
Tips
- Always rinse quinoa thoroughly to remove its natural bitter coating, which can affect the overall taste of your salad.
- Use a fine-mesh strainer when rinsing to prevent losing any grains.
- Let the quinoa cool completely before adding vegetables to prevent wilting and maintain crisp textures.
- For extra flavor, consider toasting the quinoa in a dry pan for 2-3 minutes before cooking.
- Make the salad ahead of time and let it marinate in the refrigerator for even more intense flavors.
- Feel free to customize with additional herbs like mint or add protein like grilled chicken or chickpeas.
- Use fresh lemon juice for the dressing – it makes a world of difference compared to bottled juice.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 220kcal
Carbohydrates: 36g
Protein: 6g
Fat: 8g
Saturated Fat: 1g
Cholesterol: 0mg
