With its fresh vegetables and Mediterranean flavors, this quinoa salad is very good for you. This dish is great for a healthy, light meal.
Ingredients: 1 cup quinoa. 2 cups water. 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved. 1 cucumber, diced. 1 red bell pepper, chopped. 1/2 red onion, finely diced. 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped. 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped. 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled. 1/4 cup kalamata olives, pitted and sliced. 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil. 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Salt and pepper to taste.
Instructions: Rinse the quinoa under cold water and drain. In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add the rinsed quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until the water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Then fluff the quinoa with a fork and let it cool completely. In a large bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, parsley, mint, feta cheese, and kalamata olives. In a small bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine. Chill the quinoa salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. Serve chilled, garnished with extra herbs if desired.