Quinoa Summer Salad

No doubt about it, I’m a carnivore! Although I enjoy meat 🐖🐓🐂 a lot, I also really like salads! I find them so versatile, tasty, and healthy as well. Throughout the year, they’re always on my menu. Of course, depending on the season, I make them according to the produce available.
 
During the summer, I have a long list of favorites such as Strawberry Salad 🍓, Tabbouleh, Salade Niçoise, Asparagus Summer Salad, Cucumber Salad 🥒, Pasta Primavera, Moroccan Potato Salad, Greek Tuna Pasta Salad, and many more including this one… Quinoa Summer Salad!
 
Fresh and light, this dish can be a meal on its own or a side dish. With great ingredients along with feta cheese 🧀, this healthy salad is loaded with deliciousness! It’s very easy to make and a great addition to your folder.
 
I love quinoa! It’s a “superfood” that is packed with nutrients, fiber, and protein. This healthy seed 💚 – although we treat it as a grain – has so many benefits… certainly a fabulous food you might want to eat more often and incorporate regularly into your diet.
 
This ancient grain goes back 7,000 years ago 😮 near Lake Titicaca. Apparently, there are over 3,000 varieties of quinoa. The most common ones that are grown are white, red, green, and black. You might also find some tricolor quinoa.
 
I like to soak it for at least 2 hours ⏰ or overnight, as it helps to remove the bitterness from its natural coating and makes it more digestible. The ratio of lukewarm water to quinoa is 4:1. Later on, I simply drain the quinoa into a fine sieve and rinse it thoroughly. I also allow it to drain before cooking.
 
This Quinoa Summer Salad is what I call a “I feel good” recipe 🥰! Besides quinoa, which is highly enriched with incredible nutritional values, fresh produce is added to it, making it even healthier! To make this dish a complete meal, there’s some smoked ham, but it’s totally optional if it’s served as a side.
 
Like in many of my recipes, I use raw onions 🧅 in the salad. They also have amazing benefits. Actually, raw is better than cooked to enjoy the maximum from them. On the other hand, the taste can be somewhat sharp and there’s a way to remove it. Find out by clicking on this link… How to Remove Bitterness from Onions.
 
Light and so tasty, this colorful Quinoa Summer Salad 🥗 is loaded with flavor! It’s easy to prepare and make a great lunch recipe or side dish. As I mentioned in the video intro, I like to top it with my Creamy Cilantro-Lime Dressing… these two go together so well!
Bon Appétit! 🍽
 
Check out these other amazing salad recipes… 😀
– Creamy Bacon Potato Salad
– Salade Lyonnaise ~ Lyonnaise Salad
– Mixed Tomato Salad
– Classic Cobb Salad
– Julienne Salad
– Israeli Salad
– Crab Louie Salad
and for even more salad recipes 🥗, click on this link… Recipe Category • Salads & Dressings
 

 
Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel 📽 by clicking on this link… Club Foody YouTube
 

Quinoa Summer Salad

Light and so tasty, this colorful Quinoa Summer Salad is loaded with flavor! It’s easy to make and a great lunch recipe or side dish.

5 from 4 votes

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Servings 6

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Passive Time 10 minutes mins

Ingredients

  

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• 1 cup quinoa, pre-soaked Footnote
• 2 cups cold water
• ground Himalayan pink salt, to taste
• 1 cup smoked ham, diced
• 1 cup cucumbers, peeled, quartered and sliced
• 1 cup mixed cherry tomatoes, washed and halved tips & tricks
• 1/3 cup red peppers, diced
• 1/3 cup orange peppers, diced
• 1/3 cup red onions, diced tips & tricks
• 1 can (15 oz./432 g) corn kernels, drained
• 1 can (2.25 oz./64 g) sliced black olives, drained
• 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 2 tbsp. chopped cilantro, for garnish tips & tricks

Directions

 

• In a saucepan, add drained quinoa, cold water and sea salt. Stir well and bring the mixture to a boil.
• Cover, reduce to low and cook for 15 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and let it rest, covered, for 8 minutes before transferring to a large salad bowl.
• Add the remaining ingredients and gently toss until mixed. Garnish with cilantro and serve immediately.

Notes

Footnote: Soak your quinoa for at least 2 hours or overnight in a bowl filled with lukewarm water. Later on, drain the grains into a fine sieve and rinse thoroughly; allow to drain before cooking.

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