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A vibrant quinoa salad with chickpeas served in a white bowl, featuring fresh cucumber, tomatoes, pomegranate seeds, and herbs.
Daniel

Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas

A bright, protein-packed salad that comes together fast and tastes even better the next day.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: lunch, Side Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Calories: 380

Ingredients
  

For the Quinoa
  • 1 cup quinoa rinsed well
  • 2 cups water
  • 0.5 tsp fine sea salt
For the Salad
  • 15 oz chickpeas 1 can, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup cucumber diced, about 1 medium
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 0.25 cup red onion finely diced
  • 0.5 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • 4 oz feta cheese crumbled
For the Lemon Dressing
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice about 1 lemon
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 0.5 tsp dried oregano
  • 0.5 tsp fine sea salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper freshly ground

Equipment

  • Medium Saucepan with Lid
  • Fine-mesh strainer
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Small bowl for dressing

Method
 

Cook the Quinoa
  1. Rinse quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer under cold water for 30 seconds to remove bitterness. Combine quinoa, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and you see the little tails. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and spread on a plate to cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes.
Prep the Vegetables
  1. While quinoa cooks, dice the cucumber into small cubes, halve the cherry tomatoes, finely dice the red onion, and chop the parsley. Drain and rinse the chickpeas thoroughly.
Make the Dressing
  1. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
Assemble the Salad
  1. In a large bowl, combine cooled quinoa, chickpeas, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, and parsley. Pour dressing over top and toss gently to coat everything evenly.
  2. Fold in the crumbled feta. Taste and adjust salt or lemon juice if needed. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Notes

Rinsing quinoa is non-negotiable - it removes saponins that taste bitter and soapy. For meal prep, keep the dressing separate until serving if you want maximum freshness, though the dressed salad holds up well for several days. Swap feta for diced avocado to make this vegan, or add a handful of toasted pine nuts for extra crunch.