High Protein Quinoa Chickpea Salad (Printable)

Fluffy quinoa meets chickpeas, crisp vegetables, and tangy feta in this Mediterranean-inspired bowl ready in 25 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains & Legumes

01 - 1 cup quinoa
02 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

→ Vegetables & Herbs

03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 cucumber, diced
05 - 1/2 cup fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped

→ Dairy

06 - 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled

→ Dressing

07 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
08 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
09 - Salt and pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Rinse quinoa thoroughly under cold running water to remove any bitterness.
02 - In a medium saucepan, combine rinsed quinoa with 2 cups of water or vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed and quinoa is tender. Remove from heat and cool for a few minutes.
03 - While quinoa cooks, halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber, and chop fresh herbs.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled quinoa, chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, chopped herbs, and crumbled feta cheese.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
06 - Pour dressing over salad and toss gently until evenly combined.
07 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes for a chilled, refreshing salad.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes better after sitting in the fridge for a few hours, which means you can make it ahead and actually enjoy your guests.
  • Every bite gives you that satisfying crunch and creaminess at the same time, thanks to the cucumbers and feta working together.
  • You can eat it cold, at room temperature, or slightly warm, and it never loses its charm.
  • It fills you up without that heavy, sluggish feeling some salads leave behind.
02 -
  • If you add the dressing while the quinoa is still hot, it will absorb too much and the salad will taste dry later.
  • Letting the salad sit for even 10 minutes before serving allows the flavors to marry and makes a noticeable difference.
  • Do not skip rinsing the quinoa, it truly changes the flavor from odd to pleasant.
03 -
  • Cool your quinoa on a baking sheet spread out in a thin layer if you are in a hurry, it speeds things up and keeps it fluffy.
  • Taste the salad after tossing and add an extra squeeze of lemon or pinch of salt if it feels flat, that little adjustment makes all the difference.
  • Use a mix of red and white quinoa if you can find it, the color contrast makes the whole bowl more inviting.
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