Fast Greek Quinoa Salad (straightforward choice with rooster, chickpeas or shrimp)

This mild and wholesome Greek quinoa salad with contemporary greens and chickpeas is the proper make-ahead lunch or aspect dish. High with dill or avocado in case you can! Don’t overlook to strive my different recipes like Greek pasta salad or Greek couscous.

Have you ever ever gone out to eat and had one thing that was SO GOOD, you wished you can eat it day-after-day at dwelling?

I really feel like this occurs to me ALL THE TIME, and most not too long ago the quinoa salad from Zoe’s Kitchen is making me drool simply desirous about it.

I haven’t fairly discovered what they put of their dressing, however I’ve give you a Greek quinoa salad that’s so good, it’s giving Zoe’s a run for its cash.

So good the truth is, that the husband had it for 3 days in a row and STILL requested for extra!

Word: Should you aren’t a giant fan of Greek, do this crunchy quinoa salad with this Thai peanut dressing. It’s simply nearly as good, however with a totally totally different taste profile!

Greek Quinoa Salad

As I discussed, as superb as my Greek quinoa salad is, it’s not a true copycat recipe of Zoe’s quinoa salad.

• Zoe’s has lettuce. Mine doesn’t.
• Zoe’s has cabbage. Mine doesn’t.
• Zoe’s has a lemony-sort of dressing. Mine doesn’t.

My tackle Zoe’s quinoa salad:

• It makes use of components you may simply get on the native grocery retailer.
• Dressing you may whip up with what’s already in your pantry.
• Fast prep time – Solely takes 10 minutes.
• My favourite half – it may be made in lower than half-hour.

Components for Simple Greek Quinoa Salad

Let’s break down what we’ve got happening right here.

Quinoa

Clearly, you want quinoa. Ever since I realized how you can make quinoa within the Instantaneous Pot – IN JUST ONE MINUTE – I’m bought. We’d have quinoa each evening if it had been as much as me!

Just a few notes about quinoa:

• Rinsing quinoa is SUPER vital. Take your time and don’t rush the rinsing step in any other case, your quinoa will style soapy.
• Quinoa will be frozen forward of time! I cook dinner in bulk, making huge batches of quinoa in my 8-quart Instantaneous Pot and freezing it in 4-cup parts. I extremely advocate doing one thing comparable that can assist you save time within the kitchen.
• Don’t be fooled by pre-cooked quinoa on the grocery retailer. I noticed an advert at Dealer Joe’s for 16 oz of cooked quinoa for $3.99…. which is like paying practically $12 per pound of raw quinoa. YOU GUYS. You may get 4.5 lbs of natural quinoa at Costco for $9.99 – simply $2.22 per pound! Save your self TONS of cash and cook dinner it your self.

Salad Dressing

I’m utilizing my very own selfmade Greek salad dressing, which is so good, it may simply cross for a restaurant’s Greek dressing.

You received’t want your entire batch of dressing for the meal, so be sure to add one other Greek evening to your meal plan later within the week to make use of it up.

Greens (Required)

Personally, I don’t assume any meal will be known as Greek except you could have kalamata olives and sun-dried tomatoes. However that’s simply me.

And I’d be mendacity if I mentioned that when the funds is tight and I can’t afford kalamata olives and sun-dried tomatoes OR I’ve already used up each jars and I have to make do with what I’ve. I’d use black olives and cherry tomatoes in a pinch.

However I’d even be mendacity if I mentioned it was simply nearly as good. As a result of it’s not. The kalamata olives and sun-dried tomatoes MAKE this recipe, so please don’t skip in case you don’t must!

Greens (Optionally available)

I’m a HUGE fan of including as many greens as I can to my meals, so we’re utilizing crisp cucumbers, bell peppers, and purple onions on this Greek quinoa salad recipe. All three of those veggies add crunch and genuine Greek taste to the dish.

Different non-compulsory veggies embody:

• Kale. Chop it into tiny items, therapeutic massage it with some Greek salad dressing (under), and toss it with the salad.
• Avocado. Cube it up and add it on high of the salad on the very finish.
• Recent Dill or Parsley or Mint. Completely not a vegetable, I do know, however in case you occur to have any leftover contemporary herbs from one other dish, right here’s your probability to make use of them up earlier than they get slimy behind the fridge!

Protein

• The children and I added shredded rooster (cooked within the Instantaneous Pot!) to our salads.
• My husband added steamed shrimp.
• You would additionally add leftover floor beef or sliced steak and even
• Chickpeas in case you’re vegetarian.
• Your protein choices listed below are infinite, and that is the PERFECT meal so as to add that random cup or two of leftover protein to the fridge.

Methods to Make Greek Quinoa Salad

Step 1. In a giant bowl, mix the quinoa, English cucumber, bell pepper, onion, olives, and tomatoes.

Step 2. Toss to combine collectively properly.

Step 3. Mix the salad dressing components in a mason jar and shake vigorously to combine.

Step 4. If utilizing the kale, mix the kale and ¼ cup of dressing in a big bowl. Therapeutic massage the leaves with the dressing till they’re all totally moist. Mix the kale and protein, if utilizing, with the quinoa salad and toss.

Step 5. Sprinkle with feta cheese and serve at room temperature.

Word: To make this a vegetarian dish, omit the rooster and add garbanzo beans.

FAQs for Simple Quinoa Greek Salad

Serving Strategies

This Greek quinoa salad may simply be a meal in and of itself with sufficient veggies, however you can additionally serve:

Extra Simple Recipes

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Greek Quinoa Salad

This mild and wholesome Greek quinoa salad with contemporary greens and chickpeas is the proper make-ahead lunch or aspect dish. High with dill or avocado in case you can! Don’t overlook to strive my Greek pasta salad or Greek couscous.

• Creator: Tiffany
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook dinner Time: 20 minutes
• Complete Time: half-hour
• Yield: Serves 4–6 1x
• Class: Salad
• Technique: Cook dinner and mix
• Delicacies: Greek

• 4 cups cooked quinoa, barely cooled
• 1 English cucumber, quartered and sliced
• 1 bell pepper, diced (I used orange)
• ½ purple onion, diced
• 1 cup kalamata olives, halved
• 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes
• 2–4 ounces crumbled feta cheese
• ½ batch Greek dressing (see recipe under or in THIS weblog submit.)
• 4 cups uncooked kale, non-compulsory
• 2 cups of protein, non-compulsory (shredded rooster, diced shrimp, chickpeas, and so forth.)

Greek Salad Dressing Recipe

Directions

1. In a giant bowl, mix the quinoa, cucumber, bell pepper, onion, olives, and tomatoes. Toss to combine collectively properly.
2. Mix the salad dressing components in a 16-ounce mason jar and shake vigorously to combine.
3. If utilizing the kale, mix the kale and ¼ cup of dressing in a big bowl. Therapeutic massage the leaves with the dressing till they’re all totally moist.
4. Mix the kale and protein, if utilizing, with the quinoa salad and toss. Sprinkle with feta cheese and serve at room temperature.

Notes

• To make this a vegetarian dish, omit the rooster and add garbanzo beans.

Key phrases: Greek quinoa salad, quinoa salad with feta

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