Chickpea Quinoa Salad Recipe
A refreshing and nutritious Chickpea Quinoa Salad that combines protein-rich chickpeas, fluffy quinoa, crisp cucumber, tangy feta, and a zesty homemade vinaigrette. Perfect for a light lunch or a healthy side dish, this salad is easy to prepare and served chilled for maximum flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes (for quinoa cooking)
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 1 15oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 English cucumber, chopped
- ½ cup purple onion, diced
- ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese
- 3 cups cooked quinoa, chilled
- ⅓ cup freshly chopped parsley
Dressing
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ⅓ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp sugar
- ½ tsp Italian Seasoning
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the salad: In a large bowl, combine the drained and rinsed chickpeas, chopped English cucumber, diced purple onion, crumbled feta cheese, cooked and chilled quinoa, and freshly chopped parsley. Mix gently to combine all the ingredients evenly.
- Make the dressing: In a small mason jar, add the extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Secure the lid tightly and shake vigorously until the dressing is well emulsified and combined.
- Toss and chill: Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and toss thoroughly to coat all the ingredients with the vinaigrette. Cover and keep the salad chilled in the refrigerator until ready to serve to allow flavors to meld.
Notes
- For added crunch, consider adding chopped bell peppers or toasted nuts like almonds or pine nuts.
- This salad can be made a few hours ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Use fresh parsley for the best flavor; cilantro could be substituted depending on preference.
- For a vegan version, omit the feta cheese or substitute with a plant-based cheese alternative.
- Cook quinoa according to package instructions and ensure it is well chilled before mixing to avoid a soggy salad.
Keywords: chickpea quinoa salad, healthy salad, Mediterranean salad, vegetarian salad, quinoa salad recipe, easy lunch, protein salad
Find it online: https://yumwithmia.com/chickpea-quinoa-salad-recipe/
