This vibrant vegetarian Chickpea Feta Salad is fresh, flavorful, and easily made ahead of time for speedy weekday lunches or for backyard parties or picnics.
1medium-small clove of fresh garlic(pressed or smashed/minced)
¼salt
¼black pepper
Instructions
First rinse and drain your quinoa using a mesh strainer or sieve. Bring a small pot to medium heat and lightly toast the quinoa to remove any excess water, stirring often. This step is optional but really adds to the nuttiness and fluff factor of the quinoa! Next add your water, set burner to high, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer, covered with the lid slightly ajar, for 12-13 minutes or until quinoa is fluffy and the liquid has been absorbed.
Once your quinoa is ready, fluff with a fork and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer to a large plate to cool.
While the quinoa cooks, chop all your veggies and make the dressing.
To make the dressing, whisk together all the ingredients in a small bowl or add to a mason jar (with a tight fitting lid) and shake well. Fresh garlic is a must for dressings - the flavor is amazing!
Feel free to jazz your dressing up with some fresh herbs or dried seasoning if you'd like! I kept it super simple this time around but herbs like parsley, dill, oregano, and basil all taste great here.
Finely dice red onion and add to the dressing to let it marinate. This will take the "bite" out of the raw onion. Love this little trick!
Prep remaining vegetables by dicing cucumber, tomato, and red bell pepper.
Combine cooled quinoa with veggies, chickpeas, and dressing. Mix well. Give the salad a taste and season with any additional salt and pepper you'd like. I always add a wee bit extra.
Lastly fold in the feta and you're ready to dive in!
You can enjoy this salad right away or chill before serving. I love it both ways! If meal prepping, pop it in the fridge and dive in when you're ready. The dressing will soak into the salad and amplify the flavor even more. SO GOOD!
Notes
Recipe yields 4 side salads or 2 extra large meal-sized portions.T-Rex friends - feel free to add shredded chicken or cooked shrimp to your bowl!Nutrition Facts below are estimated for salad and dressing using an online recipe nutrition calculator. Adjust as needed and enjoy!