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Fresh Mediterranean Quinoa Power Salad Easy Recipe with Lemon Herb Tahini Dressing

Mediterranean Quinoa Power Salad - featured image
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A quick, easy, and nourishing Mediterranean quinoa salad featuring fresh veggies and a bright lemon herb tahini dressing. Perfect for meal prep and packed with vibrant flavors.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (170g) dry quinoa, rinsed well
  • 1 medium cucumber, diced
  • 1 cup (150g) cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ½ cup (75g) Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
  • ¼ cup red onion, finely diced (optional)
  • ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 tbsp fresh mint, chopped (optional)
  • 1 small cherry pepper or mild chili, finely chopped (optional)
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) tahini
  • Juice of 1 large lemon (about 3 tbsp or 45 ml)
  • 2 tbsp (30 ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • 1–2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tbsp (8g) fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) water (to thin dressing as needed)
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
  • Optional toppings: crumbled feta cheese, toasted pine nuts, sliced avocado

Instructions

  1. Rinse 1 cup (170g) quinoa thoroughly under cold running water using a fine sieve to remove bitterness.
  2. Transfer quinoa to a medium saucepan with 2 cups (480 ml) water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy.
  3. Remove from heat and let sit covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and allow to cool completely (about 20 minutes).
  4. While quinoa cooks, dice cucumber, halve cherry tomatoes, pit and halve Kalamata olives, finely dice red onion, chop parsley and mint, and finely chop chili if using.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, chopped parsley, ground cumin, salt, and pepper.
  6. Add water 1 tbsp at a time to thin dressing to a pourable consistency. Adjust seasoning to taste.
  7. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled quinoa, chopped vegetables, herbs, and olives.
  8. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently until evenly coated.
  9. Add optional toppings like crumbled feta or toasted pine nuts if desired.
  10. Taste and adjust salt or lemon if needed. Optionally drizzle extra olive oil on top.
  11. Serve immediately or refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld.

Notes

Rinse quinoa well to remove bitterness and let it cool completely before mixing to avoid mushy salad. Whisk tahini with olive oil and garlic before adding lemon juice to keep dressing smooth. Salad tastes better after chilling for a few hours or overnight. Add creamy toppings like avocado or feta just before serving to keep fresh.

Nutrition

Keywords: quinoa salad, Mediterranean salad, tahini dressing, healthy salad, gluten-free, vegan, easy recipe, meal prep

Find it online: https://sweetstirring.com/fresh-mediterranean-quinoa-power-salad-easy-recipe-with-lemon-herb-tahini-dressing/