Heart-Healthy Refreshing Quinoa Salad

Delight your taste buds and nourish your body with this Heart-Healthy Refreshing Quinoa Salad, a vibrant and nutrient-packed dish perfect for any occasion. Featuring fluffy quinoa as the protein-rich base, this salad is bursting with crisp cucumbers, juicy cherry tomatoes, sweet red bell peppers, and a medley of fresh herbs like parsley and mint for a pop of color and flavor. The zesty homemade lemon-garlic vinaigrette ties everything together, infusing the salad with tangy brightness and heart-healthy olive oil. With just 20 minutes of prep and minimal cook time, this easy quinoa salad is perfect for meal prep or as a light lunch, side dish, or potluck favorite. Enjoy it chilled or at room temperature for a refreshing boost of wholesome goodness!

Nutriscore Rating: 73/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:35 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1 medium cucumber, diced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
• 0.25 cup red onion, finely chopped
• 0.5 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 0.25 cup fresh mint, chopped
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Begin by rinsing the quinoa thoroughly under cool water to remove any bitterness.

Step 2

In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup of quinoa with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Step 3

Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for about 15 minutes or until the quinoa is fluffy and the water is absorbed completely.

Step 4

Remove the saucepan from heat and let the quinoa sit, covered, for an additional 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and transfer to a large mixing bowl to cool.

Step 5

While the quinoa is cooking, prepare the vegetables. Dice the cucumber, halve the cherry tomatoes, and dice the red bell pepper. Finely chop the red onion, parsley, and mint.

Step 6

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.

Step 7

Combine the cooled quinoa with the diced vegetables and chopped herbs in the mixing bowl.

Step 8

Pour the dressing over the quinoa and vegetable mixture, and toss gently until all ingredients are well combined and evenly coated with the dressing.

Step 9

Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt or pepper if needed.

Step 10

Serve the quinoa salad immediately or refrigerate for up to 24 hours to allow the flavors to meld together. This salad can be enjoyed chilled or at room temperature.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1411.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1154.0

Total Fat 56.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 6.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2473.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 134.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 15.6g	0%
Total Sugars 19.4g
Protein 35.3g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 589.2mg	0%
Iron 17.8mg	0%
Potassium 2599.7mg	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: 42.8%

Protein: 11.9%

Carbs: 45.3%