Mediterranean Quinoa Salad (Vegan)

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad is packed with colorful mediterranean-inspired veggies for a hearty, nutritious summer salad. This vegan salad is ready in about 30 minutes.

Mediterranean flavors never disappoint. Whether you're looking for a fun salad to bring to summer gatherings, a nutrient-dense weeknight side, or a meal prep base for your favorite protein, this Mediterranean Quinoa Salad is a great option! It's simple, flavorful, and easy to prepare!

Why I love this Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

• Dietary needs - this salad is vegan, dairy-free, plant-based, oil-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free. It's also high in fiber
• Quick and easy - this dish comes together in about 30 minutes, perfect for weeknight dinner
• Fresh, veggie-forward recipe - with a variety of flavors from Mediterranean inspired veggies, this dish is bursting with flavors and textures
• Naturally Gluten-Free - quinoa is a gluten-free grain, so it's a great option if you have a sensitivity
• Ancient grains - quinoa is an ancient grain and is great to have as part of a healthy, diverse diet

Ingredient Notes

• Quinoa: I used regular white quinoa, but feel free to use a tricolor blend
• Chickpeas: chickpeas are a heartier bean, so they hold up well in salads like this. You could use edamame as a higher protein substitute
• English Cucumber: English cucumbers tend to be softer and better for salads, but feel free to use a regular cucumber or baby/mini cucumbers instead
• Green Bell Pepper: I prefer green pepper, but any color pepper is great
• Tomato: save time by dicing a large tomato, or sub halved/quartered cherry tomatoes
• Red Onion: if your red onion is particularly pungent, soak it in cold water while you prep all the ingredients.
• Kalamata Olives: a more Mediterranean olive. Feel free to use black olives instead. Or if you aren't an olive fan, omit them entirely
• Vegan Feta: this is optional. It adds a cheesy, salty flavor, but it is highly processed and not oil-free
• Fresh Parsley: I opted for fresh parsley in this dish to brighten up the flavor. I highly recommend using fresh here

The below ingredients are all for the "dressing". In this recipe you don't have to mix the dressing separately, just throw all the ingredients into the bowl with your veggies and quinoa. Less time, less dishes, same flavor!

• Red Wine Vinegar: you could also use white balsamic or white wine vinegar
• Dijon Mustard
• Garlic
• Dried Oregano: you can use fresh if you'd like, but it's not as necessary to the flavor as the parsley
• Salt & Pepper
• Fresh Mint: for garnish

How to make this Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Step 1. Add the quinoa, two cups of water, and a generous amount of salt to a medium pot. Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce the heat to low and cook for 15 minutes. Let sit 5 minutes, then remove the lid, fluff, and set aside to cool.

Step 2. Toss all the ingredients in a large bowl.

Step 3. Serve warm or cold with a garnish of fresh mint.

FAQ & Expert Tips

Recipe Prayer

Thank you God for this salad. Thank you for making food that has a variety of colors and flavors for us to enjoy. We love the beauty of your creation. Amen.

More Mediterranean dishes

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