This Quinoa Greek Salad has all of the flavours and textures of a traditional Greek salad, but with the addition of quinoa to make it more filling and for a protein boost. A delicious summer side dish, perfect for a BBQ or picnic and great for meal prep too.
Quinoa adds lots of extra texture to a Greek salad, not to mention the addition of that nutty flavour that it has. It turns it in to a really hearty salad, that is still perfect for a warm summer day. We make a batch of it once a week, and then serve it alongside meals for an easy side
A traditional Greek salad is, cucumber, tomato, red onion, peppers, olives and of course feta, but we wanted to change it up a little bit by bulking it out with some quinoa. It makes it a much more filling meal and also adds an extra protein boost. You could use a grain like rice if you want, but we found that quinoa worked really well.
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Why should you try it?
- Ready in under 30 minutes
- A delicious twist on a traditional Greek salad
- Protein packed
- Great for meal prep
What you will need
- Quinoa - (pronounced KEEN-wah or ke-NO-ah), it is commonly considered to be a grain and is usually referred (and used as) to as such, but it is actually a seed. It is native to Peru and related to beets, chard and spinach.
- Feta - It wouldn't be a Greek dish without feta cheese would it. Try to use authentic Greek feta, as you will really taste the difference, as it will be super creamy.
- Lemon - This adds a real freshness to the quinoa salad.
- Olives - A must in any kid of Greek dish. The great thing about using olives, is that there are so many different types. Add a burst of flavour with some stuffed olives (garlic or chilli are our favourites).
- Garlic - Fresh is always best, however you can save yourself some time by using chopped garlic from a jar.
- Cherry Tomatoes - You could chop up a larger tomato, but we like the sweetness of the cherry tomatoes.
- Red onion - These add a pop of colour to the salad. However, not everyone can handle raw red onion, so you could saute it a little first.
- Herbs - Fresh herbs add so much flavour to this. We used parsley and mint as they are classics in Greek cuisine, but you could swap them for your favourites.
- Oil - Try to use the best quality olive oil you can, as you really will be able to taste the difference.
- Vinegar - We used red wine vinegar, as it has a really deep flavour.
Step by step
One: Add the quinoa to a pan with twice as much water and simmer for 15 minutes (or until it has absorbed the water. Take off the heat, cover and let sit for 5 minutes.
Two: Mix all of the dressing ingredients together.
Three: Add the rest of the ingredients to the cooked quinoa and mix in the dressing.
What Is Quinoa?
If you haven't tried quinoa before, then you are missing out. Although most people think quinoa is a grain, it is actually a seed and it has a slightly nutty taste to it. You prepare it in a similar way to rice, and it can be used in pretty much the same way and makes a nice change.
Quinoa is a good source of protein, fibre, iron, copper, thiamin, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, folate and vitamin B6. Quinoa is one of the only plant foods that supplies complete proteins, offering all essential amino acids in a healthy balance. There is a reason why it is called a super food.
How to do you cook quinoa?
Firstly you want to make sure that you have rinsed the quinoa. Then, use twice as much water as quinoa that is needed for the recipe. Cook it uncovered until the quinoa has absorbed all the water (this will vary depending on how much quinoa has been used, but about 15 minutes for this recipe), and then remove it from the heat, cover the pan and let it sit and steam for 5 minutes. This will give you perfect quinoa every time.
Salad dressing
A dressing really makes or breaks a salad. We have kept this one simple with some really good quality olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice and zest and dried oregano. But you can use your favourite herby salad dressing if you fancy a change.
What to serve it with
It's a really filling dish just as it it, but if you want to bulk it out a little, then you could serve it with some grilled chicken or salad. Prawns work well too.
This is a really simple and delicious side to have at a BBQ, so anything that you would eat at a BBQ could be served alongside this. Here are some suggestions of what goes really well with this quinoa Greek salad:
- Honey and Lime Chicken
- Perfect Roast Chicken
- Creamy Dill Salmon
- Parmesan Chicken Bites
- Paprika Chicken Skewers
- Lemon, Garlic and Herb Prawns
- Easy Roast Potatoes
- Lemon and Rosemary Salmon
- Easy Homemade Flatbread
Frequently asked questions
We love making a big batch of this as part of our weekly meal prep, so of course we always have leftovers. We put it in an air tight container and it keeps fresh in the fridge for 3-4 days. Just make sure to give it a big stir before serving some up.
You can easily make a vegan version of this by either leaving out the feta or using a vegan alternative.
Extra tips
- If you want to pack this out a bit, you can add some chunky roasted vegetables.
- It is a filling meal by itself, but you can serve it with grilled chicken or salmon.
- Add a kick of spice to it with a sprinkle of dried red chilli flakes before serving.
- If you aren't a fan of quinoa, you could swap it for rice or orzo.
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Recipe
Quinoa Greek Salad
Ingredients
- 100 g Quinoa
- 60 g feta cheese crumbled
- 0.5 lemon (juice and zest only)
- 10 pitted olives halved
- 1 garlic clove crushed
- 10 cherry tomatoes halved
- 0.5 red onion diced
- 2 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- 2 tablespoon fresh mint chopped
- 1 pinch sea salt and black pepper
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Instructions
- Add the quinoa to a pan with twice as much water and simmer for 15 minutes (or until it has absorbed the water. Take off the heat, cover and let sit for 5 minutes.
- Mix all of the dressing ingredients together.
- Add the rest of the ingredients to the cooked quinoa and mix in the dressing.
Notes
- If you want to pack this out a bit, you can add some chunky roasted vegetables.
- It is a filling meal by itself, but you can serve it with grilled chicken or salmon.
- Add a kick of spice to it with a sprinkle of dried red chilli flakes before serving.
- If you aren't a fan of quinoa, you could swap it for rice or orzo.
Shannon
This was delish! Always great to find more tasty ways to eat quinoa.
Amy
I love Greek salad in the summer and the added quinoa is a great idea!