Low Fat Refreshing Quinoa Salad

Elevate your meal prep with this Low Fat Refreshing Quinoa Salad, a vibrant and nutrient-packed dish perfect for healthy lunches, light dinners, or versatile side dishes. This easy-to-make recipe combines fluffy quinoa with crisp cucumber, juicy cherry tomatoes, sweet red bell pepper, and zesty red onion, all brought to life with fresh parsley and a tangy lemon-olive oil dressing. Ready in just 25 minutes, this salad is naturally gluten-free, low in fat, and brimming with wholesome flavors. Serve it chilled or at room temperature for a refreshing, energizing bite that’s sure to satisfy! Perfect for meal prep, picnics, or gatherings, it’s as delicious as it is nutritious.

Nutriscore Rating: 72/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1 medium cucumber
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• 0.5 small red onion
• 0.5 cup fresh parsley
• 1 large lemon
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Rinse 1 cup of quinoa under cold water using a fine mesh sieve to remove its natural bitterness caused by saponins.

Step 2

In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed 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 tender and the water is absorbed.

Step 4

While the quinoa cooks, dice 1 medium cucumber, 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, 1 medium red bell pepper, and chop 0.5 small red onion into small pieces.

Step 5

Coarsely chop 0.5 cup of fresh parsley.

Step 6

Juice 1 large lemon and set it aside.

Step 7

Once the quinoa is cooked, fluff it with a fork and transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Let it cool slightly.

Step 8

Add the cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, red onion, and parsley to the quinoa and toss to combine.

Step 9

In a small bowl, whisk together the juice of the lemon, 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 0.5 teaspoon of salt, and 0.25 teaspoon of black pepper.

Step 10

Pour the dressing over the quinoa salad and toss well to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated.

Step 11

Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary, serving immediately or refrigerating for later.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1321.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	959.0

Total Fat 41.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 4.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2419.0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 124.0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 9.2g	0%
Total Sugars 15.8g
Protein 29.8g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 179.7mg	0%
Iron 8.5mg	0%
Potassium 1458.9mg	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: 37.7%

Protein: 12.1%

Carbs: 50.2%