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Fresh Quinoa Salad with Cucumber and Feta

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A quick, easy, and refreshing quinoa salad featuring crisp cucumber, tangy feta, and a zesty lemon dressing, perfect for summer meals and gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (170g) uncooked quinoa, rinsed thoroughly
  • 1 large English cucumber, diced
  • 1 cup (150g) crumbled feta cheese
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
  • 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 medium lemon)
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Optional add-ins: Kalamata olives, toasted pine nuts, or avocado slices

Instructions

  1. Rinse the quinoa under cold running water for about 30 seconds using a fine mesh sieve. Drain well.
  2. In a medium saucepan, combine rinsed quinoa with 2 cups (480ml) water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy.
  3. Remove from heat and let quinoa rest covered for 5 minutes.
  4. Fluff quinoa gently with a fork and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Allow to cool to room temperature.
  5. While quinoa cools, dice cucumber, halve cherry tomatoes, finely chop red onion, parsley, and mint.
  6. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste.
  7. Add cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, parsley, mint, and crumbled feta to the cooled quinoa. Pour dressing over and toss gently to combine.
  8. Refrigerate salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to let flavors meld. Stir gently before serving.

Notes

Rinsing quinoa is essential to remove bitterness. Fluff quinoa with a fork to keep grains separate. Chill salad before serving for best flavor. Optional add-ins like toasted pine nuts add crunch. For vegan version, omit feta or use dairy-free cheese or seasoned tofu.

Nutrition

Keywords: quinoa salad, cucumber salad, feta cheese, healthy salad, summer recipe, easy salad, gluten-free, vegetarian

Find it online: https://yumnode.com/fresh-quinoa-salad-with-cucumber-and-feta-easy-healthy-recipe-for-summer/