It’s a perfect dish for those sultry grilling nights when you have some chicken or pork chops over the fire. And it’s a great alternative to the usual old pasta or potato salads at potlucks. Give this one a try tonight, and see how easy these flavors come together. Lately, we’ve been eating a lot of quinoa. Not just because it tastes good and is good for you. You see, we have a ton of it from when Jason’s mom went through her big quinoa phase and ordered it in bulk. The novelty wore off, and we were the beneficiaries. All good. It’s very versatile, and we’ve gotten to experiment with it and cook up some great recipes that will be coming your way. To start things off, we have this easy Mediterranean quinoa salad. It has become one of our favorite ways to cook this recently trendy grain.
Why You’ll Love This Quinoa Salad
It’s a great side dish for when the days get hot. Heavy, mayo-based salads may be popular at potlucks, but is much lighter.You can whip it up in no time. Quinoa is a very quick cooking grain, and is very forgiving.It’s a super healthy salad. Seriously, there’s really not anything bad in there.Those Mediterranean flavors, along with the variety of textures, are divine…
Ingredients For Our Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
QuinoaVeggies – cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, arugulaRoasted chickpeas (see recipe card for roasting instructions)Kalamata olivesFeta cheesePine nutsFresh herbs – mint and basilDressing – extra virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, honey, garlic, fresh parsley, dijon mustard, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper
What to Serve With Mediterranean Quinoa Salad?
Our top choice would be grilled chicken, pork, or seafood. This salad, along with our Chicken Souvlaki and a side of Tzatziki or Hummus, would make a perfect Mediterranean themed dinner. If you’re not in the grilling mood, try it with our Greek Keftedes. They’re tasty little pan fried meatballs that would go great with this salad.
Can Mediterranean Quinoa Salad Be Made Ahead Of Time?
Yes, you can absolutely prepare it a day in advance. For best textures, I would recommend keeping the dressing separate, as well as the roasted chick peas and pine nuts. Simply toss everything together once ready to serve.
Variations
This versatile quinoa salad can go great with a number of other add-ins. Our top contenders would be…
Marinated artichoke heartsSundried tomatoes (jarred in oil, not dry)Raw or roasted bell peppersPepperonciniRoasted garlic
Or, make it a complete meal by adding grilled diced chicken or shrimp. Make this Mediterranean Quinoa Salad your new go-to summer side dish. It tastes great, is very healthy, and it goes with so many different things. Bring it to your next cookout or potluck. We bet the bowl will be emptied in no time, and the guests will be asking for your recipe. Pin or bookmark this great summertime recipe so you always know where to find it. And be sure to subscribe to GypsyPlate, we’re always cooking up new easy recipes for you!
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad, on our Gypsy Plate… enjoy!
Try these other great summer side dishes!Mexican Street Corn SaladCherry Tomato ConfitAvocado Tomato Pesto SaladCreole ColeslawPipirrana SaladMango SalsaCaponata
