Roger Mooking's Quinoa Salad

Bright, fresh, and packed with flavor, Roger Mooking's Quinoa Salad is a vibrant medley of wholesome ingredients and bold Mediterranean-inspired tastes. This nutritious recipe starts with fluffy quinoa, perfectly cooked and infused with a zesty lemon-cumin dressing. Crisp cucumber, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy red bell pepper, and tangy crumbled feta cheese add layers of texture and flavor, while fresh parsley and toasted almonds deliver a delightful herbal and nutty twist. Ready in just 35 minutes, this colorful quinoa salad is an easy, healthy choice for meal prep, picnics, or a light lunch. Serve it chilled or at room temperature and discover the perfect balance of hearty grains and refreshing veggies.

Nutriscore Rating: 68/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:35 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup cucumber, diced
• 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
• 0.25 cup red onion, finely chopped
• 0.5 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 0.5 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 0.25 cup toasted almonds, slivered
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the quinoa thoroughly under cold water in a fine-mesh sieve to remove its natural bitterness.

Step 2

In a medium saucepan, combine the quinoa, water, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Step 3

Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover the saucepan. Let the quinoa simmer for 15 minutes, or until all the water is absorbed.

Step 4

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

Step 5

While the quinoa cools, prepare the dressing by whisking together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, cumin, remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.

Step 6

Add the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, parsley, feta cheese, and toasted almonds to the mixing bowl with the cooled quinoa.

Step 7

Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and gently toss until everything is well combined and evenly coated.

Step 8

Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more salt or pepper if needed.

Step 9

Let the salad sit for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 10

Serve chilled or at room temperature, and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1591.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1610.5

Total Fat 96.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 24.2g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 100mg	0%
Sodium 4914.4mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 144.0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 13.7g	0%
Total Sugars 26.3g
Protein 55.6g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1052.1mg	0%
Iron 16.6mg	0%
Potassium 2623.0mg	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: 52.0%

Protein: 13.4%

Carbs: 34.6%