Tag: healthy lunch recipe

Mediterranean Vegetarian Quinoa Salad

Let me introduce you to my lunch! Man did this hit the spot today! And I’ve got a TON leftover which will be GREAT for lunches for the rest of this week. And it will travel well, so I’ll be taking it on the go, too! 🙂 PS – You don’t have to be a vegetarian to enjoy this salad! As a matter of fact, feel free to add some cut up grilled chicken or whatever meat-type products you’d like!

Ingredients

• 2 cups veggie broth
• 1 cup quinoa (I used red today)
• 1/2 red onion – chopped
• 1 sweet bell pepper – chopped
• 2 roma tomatoes – diced
• 1 can chickpeas – rinsed
• 1/2 sliced black olives (kalamata would be great!)
• 1/2 cup crumbled reduced fat feta cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (or 2-3 T. dry)
• 2 lemons – squeezed
• 2 t. red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• ground sea salt & pepper to taste

Directions

1. Cook quinoa according to package directions (using broth instead of water). Wait until cooled to add to the rest of the ingredients.
2. Meanwhile chop veggies and add to a large bowl with chickpeas, olives, feta and parsley.
3. In a separate bowl, mix lemon juice, vinegar and olive oil, salt and pepper.
4. Add the cooled quinoa to the bowl and toss gently with the dressing.

Serving suggestion: I put mine over a bed of chopped romaine lettuce. *It comes with its own salad dressing already, no need to add more!

Makes 8 servings 

1 serving = 179 calories, 6 grams protein, 16 grams carbs.