Cold Quinoa Salad

This post may contain paid links. See more info on my privacy page.

My easy Cold Quinoa is light, refreshing, and so easy to make in minutes! Complete with homemade lemon garlic vinaigrette and fresh vegetables, this is a perfect spring and summer salad recipe you will love.

Jump to:

• Quinoa Salad Recipe
• What is quinoa?
• How to Make Quinoa Taste Good
• Best Quinoa Salad Recipe Ingredients
• Quinoa Salad Dressing Ingredients
• How to Make Quinoa Salad
• Quinoa Salad Recipes Tips
• Is quinoa gluten-free?
• Quinoa Cold Salad Variations
• Can I make Mediterranean Quinoa Salad ahead of time?
• What to Serve with Quinoa Salad
• Cold Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas and Rice
• Reviews

Quinoa Salad Recipe

I love making easy salads to pair with my favorite summer grilling recipes, and this cold quinoa salad is by far one of my favorites. It's fresh, light, and packed with fun and flavorful ingredients like chickpeas and bell peppers.

My healthy quinoa salad is delicious enough to eat on its own, but it also works well as a side dish. The homemade garlic lemon vinaigrette drizzled on top brings all of its flavors together and makes it a truly irresistible dish.

What is quinoa?

Pronounced "KEEN-wah", Quinoa is not actually a grain but a seed. According to the Healthline article, What is Quinoa, it is highly nutritious and healthy.

It's a carbohydrate that's rich in fiber and protein, plus B vitamins and minerals. 1 cup of quinoa has twice the protein and more fiber than 1 cup of cooked rice, so it's a perfect choice for those on a vegetarian or vegan meal plan.

Quinoa is easy to make and has a neutral taste, so it pairs well with a wide variety of flavors - like my garlic lemon vinaigrette! For nutritional purposes, quinoa is considered to be a whole grain and is gluten-free.

Healthy quinoa salad is wholesome and filling!

How to Make Quinoa Taste Good

The secret to what makes my zesty quinoa salad taste so incredible is my lemon vinaigrette. This easy quinoa salad dressing is so flavorful and pairs deliciously with the ingredients of this salad.

Best Quinoa Salad Recipe Ingredients

• Cooked Quinoa
• Cooked Brown Rice
• Chickpeas drained & rinsed
• Cucumber seeded & chopped
• Red Bell Pepper chopped
• Red Onion, chopped
• Parsley chopped fine

Quinoa Salad Dressing Ingredients

• Olive oil
• Lemon juice
• Red wine vinegar
• Minced garlic

We pair my cucumber quinoa salad with a homemade garlic lemon vinaigrette recipe. It pairs deliciously with the fresh vegetables, quinoa, and brown rice in this recipe, and is so easy to whip up. This is the perfect salad for get-togethers and picnics.

Or, change it up with my salad dressing recipes!

How to Make Quinoa Salad

1. Boil the brown rice and quinoa according to package directions and allow both to chill, ideally overnight.
2. Mix together chickpeas, cucumber, bell pepper, onion, and parsley. Set aside.
   
3. Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, and garlic together. Add to the chilled chickpea and rice mixture and combine.
   
4. Drizzle dressing over the salad, add salt and pepper to taste, and toss together.
5. Let the salad rest for 5-10 minutes so the flavors fully combine. Serve, and enjoy!

Quinoa Salad Recipes Tips

• Quinoa is sold pre-washed, but it's best to rinse and drain it in a colander before you cook it, as its natural coating can taste bitter if unwashed.
• Cut the veggies into even pieces so your healthy quinoa salad combines well.
• Make sure to cool the quinoa and rice before adding to the salad. Cooling a day ahead of time will allow them to absorb flavors better.
• 1 cup dried quinoa = 3 cups cooked quinoa.

Is quinoa gluten-free?

Yes! Quinoa is 100% gluten-free. This salad is a great choice for those on a gluten-free meal plan.

Quinoa Cold Salad Variations

• Bell peppers: Use any color you like - we use red.
• Chickpeas: Cannellini beans are a popular substitute for chickpeas.
• You can make this salad with just quinoa. Just replace the rice with the same parts of quinoa.
• Feta cheese: Quinoa feta salad is delicious! Try adding a little sprinkle of feta to yours.
• Tomatoes: Grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes work well in this cold quinoa salad.
• Beets: Beet quinoa salad is a great combination!
• Olives: Olives are so good in this recipe, my favorite is kalamata olives.
• Fresh Herbs: These are a perfect addition, I love adding fresh cilantro.
• Veggies: This salad is perfect for adding lots of veggies. My favorites are spinach, avocado, carrots, and peas!

Can I make Mediterranean Quinoa Salad ahead of time?

You can make cold quinoa salad up to a day ahead of time, but we recommend leaving out the cucumbers and mixing them in when ready to serve, as cut cucumbers quickly become too soft in the refrigerator. Store the dressing separately for best results.

In fact, we recommend making this Mediterranean quinoa and rice salad ahead of time as the flavor intensifies while refrigerated. This is an amazingly tasty summer salad!

What to Serve with Quinoa Salad

• Lebanese Kebab Recipe
• Picanha Steak Skewers
• Easy Lemon Butter Chicken
• Shrimp in Foil

This recipe makes a great side dish for the holidays. Pair it with my other Side Dishes for Ham, Thanksgiving Dishes, Side Dishes for Prime Rib or Christmas Side Dishes!