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A quinoa salad with feta, nectarines, olives, tomatoes and arugula.
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5 from 2 votes

Summer Greek Quinoa Salad

A bright and summery Greek quinoa salad with arugula, nectarines, and mint. This summer quinoa salad is a delicious light meal on it's own, or the perfect compliment to any BBQ.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Servings: 5
Calories: 429kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup quinoa rinsed
  • 2 cups arugula
  • 2 nectarines sliced
  • 2 cups cucumber sliced and quartered
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 cup black olives or kalamata olives
  • fresh mint and basil to garnish
  • 1/4 cup walnuts to garnish
  • 1/4 cup feta cheese to garnish

Herbed Lemon Vinaigrette

  • 6 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey or date syrup
  • 1-3 teaspoons minced garlic to taste
  • 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
  • 1/3 cup fresh mint packed
  • 1/3 cup fresh basil packed
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Add quinoa and 2 cups of water to a pot over medium high heat. Bring water to a boil. Cover pot, and reduce heat to low. Allow to steam for about 15 minutes while preparing the other ingredients.
  • Chop cucumbers, nectarines, tomatoes, and walnuts.
  • Prepare the dressing by adding all the ingredients to a blender, and processing until it's a vibrant bright green.
  • Once the quinoa is cooked, fluff with a fork, and set aside to cool.
  • In a large bowl, add quinoa and arugula, and toss to combine. Top with cucumbers, tomatoes, nectarines, and olives. Gently mix in.
  • Drizzle dressing over the salad when ready to serve, and garnish with additional herbs, walnuts, and feta cheese.
  • If not serving this salad right away, don't add arugula. Mix the quinoa, cucumber, tomatoes, olive and nectarine with the dressing, and refrigerate. When ready to serve, stir in arugula, and top with walnuts and feta cheese.

Notes

  • Make it Vegetarian/Vegan: This salad is easily made vegan by swapping the honey in the dressing for date syrup, and omitting the feta cheese.
  • Make it Paleo/Whole30: Omit the quinoa, and use a chilled cauliflower rice in it's place. Use extra walnuts and omit the feta cheese on top. The dressing can be made Whole30 compliant by simply omitting the honey, or using a medjool date in it's place (blend well prior to adding the herbs to the dressing).
  • Increase the Protein: Grilled chicken or salmon would be amazing served on top of this salad.

Nutrition

Calories: 429kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 537mg | Potassium: 535mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 910IU | Vitamin C: 17.5mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 2.8mg