Gluten-Free Refreshing Quinoa Salad

Brighten up your meal with this Gluten-Free Refreshing Quinoa Salad, a vibrant blend of wholesome ingredients perfect for any occasion. This light yet satisfying salad features fluffy quinoa as its protein-packed base, paired with crisp English cucumber, juicy cherry tomatoes, sweet red bell pepper, and aromatic red onion. Fresh herbs like parsley and mint add a burst of flavor, while a zesty dressing of lemon juice and olive oil ties everything together seamlessly. With just 30 minutes from prep to table, this naturally gluten-free and vegan salad is a breeze to prepare, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights, picnics, or potlucks. Serve it chilled for a refreshing, healthy side dish or light lunch that everyone will love!

Nutriscore Rating: 72/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup Quinoa
• 2 cups Water
• 1 medium English cucumber
• 1 cup Cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium Red bell pepper
• 0.25 cup Red onion
• 0.5 cup Parsley
• 0.25 cup Mint leaves
• 0.25 cup Lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons Olive oil
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the quinoa thoroughly under cold water using a fine mesh sieve to remove the natural coating of saponin, which can make quinoa taste bitter.

Step 2

In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed quinoa and water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Step 3

Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and let it simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the quinoa has absorbed all the water.

Step 4

Remove the quinoa from heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff the quinoa with a fork and let it cool to room temperature.

Step 5

While the quinoa is cooling, dice the cucumber and red bell pepper. Halve the cherry tomatoes, and finely chop the red onion, parsley, and mint leaves.

Step 6

In a large salad bowl, combine the cooked and cooled quinoa with the cucumber, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, parsley, and mint.

Step 7

In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and black pepper until well combined.

Step 8

Pour the dressing over the quinoa salad and toss gently until all ingredients are well-coated.

Step 9

Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1432.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1109.5

Total Fat 55.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 6.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2419.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 126.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 10.7g	0%
Total Sugars 16.6g
Protein 31.2g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 319.9mg	0%
Iron 10.3mg	0%
Potassium 1688.1mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 44.1%

Protein: 11.0%

Carbs: 44.9%