• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

A Communal Table

  • Home
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Work with Me
  • Recipes
  • Cocktails
  • Cuisines
  • Recipe Box
  • Plate with grilled lamb kebabs.
    Easy Grilled Lamb Kebabs Recipe
  • Single glass of apple martini.
    Apple Martini
  • Single glass of bourbon smash cocktail with a mint garnish.
    Bourbon Smash Cocktail
  • Close up shot of demerara syrup.
    Demerara Syrup
  • single glass of a dark rum mojito cocktail
    Dark Rum Mojito
  • single glass of a rum sour.
    Rum Sour Cocktail
  • Moroccan Carrot Salad Recipe
  • Glass jar filled with raspberry syrup.
    Easy Raspberry Syrup
  • close up of greek yogurt flatbread recipe in a basket.
    Easy Yogurt Flatbreads
  • Bowl of Sopa de Fideo with cilantro garnish.
    Sopa De Fideo - Mexican Noodle Soup
  • A red wine spritzer cocktail in a glass.
    The EASIEST Red Wine Spritzer
  • savory bread pudding recipe in a casserole dish with plates and silverware in the background.
    Easy, Cheesy Savory Bread Pudding
Home » Recipes » summer salads

Published: Oct 9, 2012 · Modified: Jul 31, 2022 by Nancy · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad with Feta

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This Mediterranean Quinoa Salad with Feta is chock full of fresh vegetables, protein rich quinoa and wrapped with a zippy lemon dijon vinaigrette! Marcona almonds and feta gussy up this  easy to make and easy to take  lunch, brunch or dinner dish!

A bowl of Mediterranean quinoa salad with feta with a napkin and fork. A few months ago you might remember I was invited by Dole Salads to tour the Dole salad fields up in Monterey, CA. I love these trips not only because I have the opportunity to learn more about food, but also because of all the amazing people I meet - and the Dole trip was no different! On the trip I had the pleasure of  getting to know  to Sharon Palmer, RD and we got to talking about... what else, food!!! During our conversation, Sharon mentioned that  she would soon have a new book coming out "The Plant Powered Diet" and I said I would love to review it! True to her word, Sharon graciously sent me a copy when it was released. As I was reading the book, I was inspired to re create this Mediterranean Quinoa Salad with Feta  from True Food Kitchen - and I knew I wanted to share both the salad and the book with you!

Overhead shot of Mediterranean Quinoa Salad with feta and a side of almonds

It's no secret that nutrition is now a hot topic and like any popular topic the web is full of all kinds of information - it seems these days "everyone" has something to say on the topic whether they are a trained professional or not. If you are  looking for reliable advice on how to change your  diet to a more healthful one this presents a problem - where do you go for reliable information?  A recent google search turned up 110 MILLION hits under "advice for healthy eating" alone. So where in the world do you start?

Start with this book.

The "Plant Powered Diet" isn't just another book about the benefits of eating a more "healthy diet". What sets this book apart  is that Sharon presents the basics of human nutrition in an easy to understand way and backs up her recommendations  with scientifically based research.  More importantly, the book is filled with strategies on how exactly to do that in a way that is "doable" whether you are a vegan, vegetarian or an omnivore like me!  What I loved most about the book  though is Sharon's approach - reading it, you feel that you are having a conversation with Sharon. Reading it,  you can't help but get excited about eating a more plant based diet and Sharon includes 75 delicious recipes to help you get started!

So if you are looking to learn a little bit more about nutrition and how to develop a more plant centered eating plan, I strongly recommend you get a copy of "The Plant Powered Diet" - it is one that you will refer to over and over again.

Although this Mediterranean Quinoa Salad with Feta isn't in Sharon's book, I thought it was a perfect example of what the plant based diet is all about. As you probably know by now, I LOVE  main course salads and frequently eat them for lunch and dinner. Lately, I've been making a lot of salads like this Quinoa Mediterranean Salad with Feta  - paired with a side of fruit it's the perfect lunch that I can eat at my desk or pack up and take with me on the road!

📖Recipe

Easy and healthy Mediterranean Quinoa Salad recipe with a lemon vinaigrette. Tomatoes, arugula, feta and almonds combine in this make ahead side dish!

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad with Feta

This Mediterranean Quinoa Salad with Feta is chock full of fresh vegetables, protein rich quinoa and wrapped with a zippy lemon dijon vinaigrette! Marcona almonds and feta gussy up this  easy to make and easy to take  lunch, brunch or dinner dish!
No ratings yet
Print Pin Rate Add to Collection Go to Collections
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 526kcal
Author: Nancy Buchanan

Ingredients

  • 1 cup quinoa I used red
  • 3 cups water
  • 4 cups english or persian cucumbers chopped
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes I used an heirloom mix
  • 2 cups green beans I used a mix of green and yellow wax beans
  • 4 cups arugula
  • ½ cup marcona almonds
  • ½ cup feta cheese crumbled
  • ¾ cup kalamata olives
  • Vinaigrette
  • 6 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
  • 2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
  • zest from 1 lemon
  • 2 tsp. dijon mustard
  • 2 tsp. honey
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh oregano minced
  • 3 Tbsp. olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • For the vinaigrette: In a small bowl whisk together the lemon juice, white wine vinegar and a large pinch of salt. Whisk in the honey and dijon mustard, lemon zest and organo. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil and whisk until the dressing is smooth. Taste. Add additional salt and/or pepper to taste.
  • Set aside - dressing can be made 4 hours ahead - cover and refrigerate. Let come to room temperature before using.
  • For salad: Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Place the quinoa in a sieve and rinse under running water (if your quinoa is already pre rinsed you can skip this step). Add the quinoa to the boiling water. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 - 8 minutes until the quinoa is still firm to the bite. Drain quinoa and rinse with cold water.
  • Bring another pot of water to a boil and add a teaspoon of salt. Cook the beans for 3 - 4 minutes until tender but still firm to the bite. Remove the pot from the heat and drain the beans. Rinse the beans with cold water to stop the cooking. Drain on paper towels while you prepare the rest of the ingredients. In a large bowl, combine the cucumbers, tomatoes, arugula, almonds and olives and toss to combine. Sprinkle the quinoa over and toss again. Drizzle salad with ½ of the vinaigrette. Taste, adding more vinaigrette if needed. Sprinkle with the feta cheese and serve!!

Recipe Notes

  •  This is NOT the usual method for making quinoa and results in a slightly chewier, firmer grain which I prefer in my salads. If you prefer a lighter, fluffier quinoa, reduce the amount of water by 1 cup and simmer for approximately 14 minutes until all the water has been absorbed.

Nutrition

Calories: 526kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 672mg | Potassium: 1081mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1845IU | Vitamin C: 48.2mg | Calcium: 368mg | Iron: 7.4mg
YOU KNOW I WANT TO SEE IT!Mention @Acommunaltable or tag #acommunaltable!

More Salad Recipes

  • Bowl of Edamame Salad with dressing being poured on the top.
    Asian Edamame Salad with Ginger Dressing
  • Overhead shot of Shrimp Louie Salad with a side of dressing.
    Classic Shrimp Louie Salad and Dressing
  • 15 Minute French Potato Salad
  • Easy Moroccan Citrus Salad

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Allison Day says

    October 09, 2012 at 5:48 pm

    I love the colors in this dish. It looks like a perfect way to keep summer around just a little bit longer, and sounds so flavorful!

    Reply
  2. Barbara | Creative Culinary says

    October 11, 2012 at 2:53 pm

    This is gorgeous. I can go for days eating salads with greens, fruits and grains. I like meat but don't 'need' it so do like to make a hearty salad if it's what I'm having for dinner. This works. PERFECTLY!

    Reply
  3. Deb says

    October 13, 2012 at 10:17 am

    Even without the nutritional background, I adore this recipe as it scrumptious. Full of flavor and easy to prepare are my daily dinner mantras. These are exactly the type of recipes that we need to prepare for our tired, hungry families at the end of a busy day.

    Reply
  4. Deborah@Delicious Happens says

    October 14, 2012 at 10:18 pm

    Beautiful quinoa salad! Definitely making this!

    Reply
  5. reema says

    July 01, 2013 at 1:39 am

    I just came across your artical and recipe, while looking for the ture food Quinoa salad .. I loved it when i tried it there and now im super excited to try it home .. but i have one question did it has grean bean at the resturant as i cant recall the exact ingredients??
    a huge thank you anyway 🙂

    Reply
    • Nancy says

      July 01, 2013 at 11:08 am

      Hello Reema!!!Yes, it has green beans in it - but feel free to omit them if they aren't to your liking!!! Hope you enjoy the recipe!!

      Reply
  6. Mark says

    March 11, 2018 at 1:12 pm

    5 stars
    I usually prefer proteins in my meals, but this salad is a tasty, nutritious alternative. It tastes as good as it looks.

    Reply
  7. debi nicholson says

    December 31, 2019 at 11:28 am

    I will travel for over 45 min just to eat this at the restaurant. I will be happy to make it at home now!!!!

    Reply
    • Nancy says

      January 06, 2020 at 11:13 am

      I hope you enjoy the salad - it truly is one of our favorites.

      Reply
  8. Beth says

    February 12, 2020 at 2:30 pm

    Do you cook the quinoa in the three cups of water, and just fill a pot for the green beans?

    Reply
    • Nancy says

      February 19, 2020 at 2:41 pm

      Hi Beth! That is exactly what I do!!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

SALUD, BONJOUR AND CIAO!
Hi, I’m Nancy Buchanan! At A Communal Table, you’ll find simple, delicious recipes inspired by world cuisine.

With my step-by-step instructions, tips, and tricks, I invite you to explore the world…one plate at a time!
Care to know more?

Popular recipes

  • single glass of a rum sour.
    Rum Sour Cocktail
  • close up of greek yogurt flatbread recipe in a basket.
    Easy Yogurt Flatbreads
  • savory bread pudding recipe in a casserole dish with plates and silverware in the background.
    Easy, Cheesy Savory Bread Pudding
  • Chicken Contadina Recipe

Winter Warmers

  • Top round roast on a platter with vegetables.
    Provencale Braised Top Round Roast
  • Large pan of barley risotto with italian sausage and peppers.
    Barley Risotto with Italian Sausage and Peppers
  • One-Pan-Moroccan lemon olive chicken recipe
    One Pan Moroccan Lemon Olive Chicken
  • chicken marbella in a casserole dish with olives and prunes in the background.
    Chicken Marbella with Boneless Thighs

Footer

↑ back to top

Affiliate Disclaimer

As an Amazon Associate and Affiliate Marketer, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click a product affiliate link on A Communal Table and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you, ever!  I own every cooking product I recommend and love how they perform. Happy Cooking!

As seen in


Please Follow Me

  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

Reader Favorites

  • Glass of Blackberry Fool, garnished with blackberries and mint, with a spoon
  • Close up of a Gin Mule in a cocktail glass garnished with a fresh mint sprig and lime slices.
  • Bowl of Edamame Salad with dressing being poured on the top.

Copyright © 2021 ♥︎ A Communal Table ♥︎ Privacy Policy ♥︎Accessibility Statement

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required