Mediterranean Quinoa Salad With Tomatoes and Cucumbers

Mediterranean quinoa salad is simple to make and loaded with texture and flavor. It is a perfect summer side dish featuring fresh tomatoes and cucumbers.

This fresh salad is perfect for summer. It is loaded with fresh vegetables, protein filled quinoa, a pop of fresh herbs and a bit of salty feta.

Summer’s bounty is here! It is time to make the most of it.

The tomatoes and cucumbers are in their peek, so it is easy to make tasty and healthy side dishes with them. One of my favorite go-to salads is just some fresh onion, tomato and cucumbers with a bit of vinaigrette and feta.

It is so fresh and easy to throw together. So I thought I would do a combination of that and caprese quinoa salad and this is what it turned into.

It is a well balanced picnic salad that has loads of texture and bright flavors. The salty feta balances it all out.

It would be perfect for bringing to a potluck or picnic. Or if you are a meal planner, make a batch on the weekend and have it for lunch throughout the week.

That is what I did. We enjoyed the salad as a side dish with some grilled chicken on Sunday and then I packaged up the leftovers in small containers for easy take to work lunches.

Easy additions and substitutions

The best part about salads like this is they are easily customizable. Make it match your tastes and preferences.

I used fresh parsley in this version, but basil would be amazing as well. Or use some chives or a mixture of whatever fresh herbs you have on hand.

I love adding a can of chickpeas to salads like this. I had originally planned on adding some, but there weren’t any cans in the pantry.

Of course I picked some up my very next trip to the grocery store. Now I’m ready for the next batch!

If you are an olive fan, toss some in. That’s a sure way to make sure it doesn’t get eaten at my house though. 😉

You could also toss in some cooked chicken and make a whole meal out of the salad. Do whatever your heart desires.

More tasty summer salads

Wilted lettuce with bacon is the perfect way to eat leaf lettuce from the garden. The warm bacon dressing is a little sweet, tangy and savory all at once. It’s the perfect mix.

Grape orzo salad combines a hint of sweet grapes with bright lemon juice, savory feta cheese and more.  It is the perfect side dish for grilled meats or seafood.

Or whip up a blueberry summer salad with greens and all of the good stuff.

4.87 from 15 ratings

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad With Tomatoes and Cucumbers

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Author: Carlee

Servings: 12 Servings

Mediterranean quinoa salad is simple to make and loaded with texture and flavor. It is a perfect summer side dish featuring fresh tomatoes and cucumbers.

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Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 15 minutes mins

Total: 30 minutes mins

Ingredients 

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• ▢ 1½ cups quinoa uncooked
• ▢ ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• ▢ ¼ cup diced onion
• ▢ 2 cups chopped tomato
• ▢ 2 cups chopped cucumber
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper
• ▢ 4 oz crumbled feta cheese
• ▢ ¼ cup fresh parsley or basil

Instructions 

• Cook quinoa according to package directions. Set aside to cool.
  1½ cups quinoa
• Put balsamic vinegar, olive oil and onions in a large bowl. Allow onions to soak for a couple of minutes. This will help to soften the onion flavor a bit.
  ¼ cup balsamic vinegar, 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, ¼ cup diced onion
• When the quinoa is at room temperature, add remaining ingredients to the bowl. Toss to combine.
  2 cups chopped tomato, 2 cups chopped cucumber, ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper, 4 oz crumbled feta cheese, ¼ cup fresh parsley or basil
• Adjust the salt and pepper to your taste then refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Notes

Add a can of rinsed and drained chickpeas to the salad to make a hearty but light summer lunch.

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Nutrition Information

Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 87kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 117mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g

“Cooking With Carlee” is not a dietitian or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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