Mediterranean Quinoa Salad (w/ Lemon-Herb Vinaigrette)

Recipe Features:

• Salad packed with Mediterranean flare
• Is a great vegetarian option
• Is rich in protein
• A healthy, homemade lemon-herb vinaigrette
• You can enjoy this salad as a main dish or side salad

Health Benefits Of This Mediterranean Salad:

Did you know???

• Arugula – Is rich in antioxidants.
• Quinoa – This carbohydrate is rich in protein, fiber, B vitamins and minerals. Quinoa is a great plant-based protein option for vegetarians and vegans.
• Garbanzo Beans – These beans add extra protein and fiber.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Is a healthy fat.

Ingredient Notes For This Quinoa Salad:

• Prep – You can cook the quinoa in advance, then prep all the other ingredients and store them in individual containers until you’re ready to assemble. (If you are interested, below the recipe card, I share a link to my favorite glass containers).
• Quinoa – A serving size is 1/4 cup of dry quinoa. So, for a family of four, that is a total of 1 cup. However, if that is too much, just cut it by half. (FYI: I do cut it in half in my recipe card).
• Greens – I use arugula, but you can use spinach or a combo of the two as well.
• Tomatoes – Either sundried tomatoes or mini fresh tomatoes will work here. I love the taste and texture of the sundried though.
• Kalamata Olives – I use these olives because of their nice briny bite.
• Dried Thyme & Rosemary – These herbs provide great earthiness and flavor to the dressing, and pair so well together. Please don’t skip this part.
• Pro Tip: Rub these herbs in between your fingers to release the oils and mellow the herbs.
• Vinaigrette – This dressing can be prepared in advance. If so, remove from the fridge and let it sit out on the counter for awhile before using. This just allows it to come to room temperature, which makes it easier to mix up again.

Additional Things You May Want To Look For:

• The brands, that I mention below, of sundried tomatoes and artichoke hearts are very clean brands. They don’t include any inflammatory oils, natural flavors or any preservatives. And, when it comes to the Kalamata olives, be sure there are no dyes included along with any of the things just mentioned. Lastly, when it comes to the beans, you want to look for beans that contain just water and salt. (All these little things add up to big things and, avoiding the bad makes for a happy, healthy gut).

This Mediterranean Quinoa Salad is hearty, yet light and delicious and I just love it! I hope you love it too!

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NOTE:

• If you are interested, all of the product links for this post are within the actual blog post on my website. Please be sure to check it out!