Mediterranean Quinoa Salad Recipe

Name: Mediterranean Quinoa Salad Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 5 servings
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons olive oil; 1 medium red onion; 1 cup dry uncooked quinoa; 1 ½ cups water; 2 tablespoons lemon juice; 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar; 2-3 cups fresh spinach; one 15-ounce can chickpeas; one 15-ounce can artichoke hearts*; ⅔ cup pitted and drained black Kalamata olives; 1 teaspoon cardamom; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 6 ounces goat cheese

User Reviews

4.6

72 reviews

Excellent

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings
5 servings
Calories
519 kcal
Course
Side Dish, Salad
Cuisine
Mediterranean

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad Recipe

Jade Rice

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🫒🧀😋 This EASY quinoa salad is ready in 20 minutes with Mediterranean-inspired ingredients, including chickpeas, Kalamata olives, artichokes, and goat cheese, to give layers of flavor and texture in every bite! Naturally gluten-free and vegetarian!

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Ingredients

Servings

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium red onion diced small (white or yellow onion may be substituted)
1 cup dry uncooked quinoa I used white; another color may be substituted
1 ½ cups water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2-3 cups fresh spinach loosely packed (2 heaping handfuls)
one 15-ounce can chickpeas drained and rinsed (I use no-salt added)
one 15-ounce can artichoke hearts* drained and halved or quartered or 1 cup frozen that have been thawed and drained (See Notes)
⅔ cup pitted and drained black Kalamata olives or as desired
1 teaspoon cardamom
1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste if desired
¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
6 ounces goat cheese crumbled (feta may be substituted)

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Instructions

To a large skillet or saucepan, add the olive oil, onion, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until onion has softened and just begun to barely brown, about 7 minutes.
Add the quinoa and stir it into the onions and let it toast for about 30 seconds.
Add the water, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and cook for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until all liquid has been absorbed** (See Notes). While it’s simmering, prep and drain the remaining ingredients.
When the quinoa is done, turn off the heat, add the spinach, and stir into the quinoa until it wilts, about 1 minute.
Add the chickpeas, artichokes, olives, cardamom, salt, pepper, stir well to combine, and taste. If desired, add additional salt, pepper, cardamom, or for a tiny bit of heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Add the goat cheese (wait until the quinoa has cooled if you don't want it to melt into the quinoa and disintegrate), stir to combine, and serve. Quinoa salad may be served warm and fresh, at room temp, or chilled straight from the fridge.

Notes

*For the artichokes I used one 15-ounce can artichokes, packed in water, that I rinsed, drained, and quartered. If you have a Trader Joe's in your area, I recommend their frozen artichoke hearts in a pale yellow bag; thaw and drain them and use about 1 cup. I don't recommend artichokes packed in oil for this recipe because I think it will make the overall quinoa salad taste greasy
**All quinoa cooks slightly differently and if during the cooking process your quinoa looks like it needs a bit more water in order to fully soften, feel free to add another one-quarter cup or so.
Storage: Quinoa salad will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months, noting that the color and texture of the spinach will change upon thawing, but the taste is just fine. I actually find that this simple flavors marry together and this quinoa salad almost tastes better the second day.

Nutrition Information

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Serving 1serving Calories 519kcal (26%) Carbohydrates 54g (18%) Protein 21g (42%) Fat 26g (40%) Saturated Fat 7g (35%) Polyunsaturated Fat 17g Cholesterol 16mg (5%) Sodium 1238mg (52%) Fiber 13g (52%) Sugar 6g (12%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 5servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 519 kcal

% Daily Value*

Serving	1serving
Calories	519kcal	26%
Carbohydrates	54g	18%
Protein	21g	42%
Fat	26g	40%
Saturated Fat	7g	35%
Polyunsaturated Fat	17g	100%
Cholesterol	16mg	5%
Sodium	1238mg	52%
Fiber	13g	52%
Sugar	6g	12%