Description
Lemon Herb Quinoa and Chickpeas Mediterranean Salad is a refreshing dish that combines vibrant ingredients typical of Mediterranean cuisine, offering numerous health benefits.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup raw quinoa
- 15 ounce canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup sliced cucumber
- 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
- 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
Instructions
1. Rinse the quinoa thoroughly under cold water to remove saponin.
2. Cook the quinoa according to package instructions, typically in a ratio of 2 cup of water per 1 cup of quinoa with a pinch of salt.
3. Once cooked, spread the quinoa on a baking sheet to cool.
4. In a large mixing bowl, combine chickpeas, sliced cucumber, diced red bell pepper, finely chopped red onion, and fresh parsley.
5. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, dried oregano, garlic powder, ground cumin, kosher salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.
6. Once the quinoa has cooled, add it to the bowl of prepared vegetables and chickpeas.
7. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
Notes
For added flavor, consider incorporating feta cheese or sun-dried tomatoes.
You can prepare the salad ahead of time; it can be stored in the refrigerator without dressing for up to 2 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 0mg