Description
A refreshing and protein-packed Chickpea Quinoa Salad that combines tender chickpeas, fluffy quinoa, crisp cucumbers, tangy feta cheese, and a zesty homemade dressing. Perfect for a light lunch, picnic, or a healthy side dish, this salad is vibrant, nutritious, and easy to prepare with simple ingredients and no cooking required beyond quinoa preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 English cucumber, chopped
- ½ cup purple onion, diced
- ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese
- 3 cups chilled cooked quinoa
- ⅓ cup freshly chopped parsley
Dressing Ingredients
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ⅓ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp sugar
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Salad Base: In a large bowl, combine the drained and rinsed chickpeas, chopped English cucumber, diced purple onion, crumbled feta cheese, chilled cooked quinoa, and freshly chopped parsley. Mix gently to distribute ingredients evenly.
- Make the Dressing: In a small mason jar with a lid, add extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Secure the lid tightly and shake vigorously until the dressing is well combined and emulsified.
- Dress the Salad: Pour the freshly made dressing over the salad mixture. Toss the salad thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are coated evenly with the dressing.
- Chill and Serve: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad until chilled, about 30 minutes to 1 hour, to allow flavors to meld. Serve cold as a nutritious meal or side dish.
Notes
- Use pre-cooked quinoa that has been completely cooled to prevent the salad from becoming soggy.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, especially salt and pepper, depending on the feta cheese’s saltiness.
- For a vegan version, omit the feta cheese or substitute with a plant-based cheese alternative.
- This salad can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Adding fresh herbs like mint or dill can provide a different flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes (assuming quinoa is pre-cooked and chilled)
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: chickpea quinoa salad, Mediterranean salad, healthy quinoa salad, vegetarian salad, protein packed salad, easy no-cook salad
