High Protein Quinoa Chickpea Salad (Printer View)

A vibrant, protein-packed mix featuring fluffy quinoa, fresh vegetables, creamy feta, and hearty chickpeas for a nutritious meal.

# 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 - ½ cup fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped

→ Dairy

06 - ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled

→ Dressing

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

# Method:

01 - Rinse the quinoa thoroughly under cold running water to remove any bitterness.
02 - In a medium saucepan, combine the 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 let cool for a few minutes.
03 - While quinoa cooks, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, and chop the 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 to combine all ingredients evenly.
07 - Serve immediately, or refrigerate for 30 minutes for a colder, more refreshing salad.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like you spent way more effort on it
  • The combination of creamy feta, fresh herbs, and bright lemon makes each bite interesting
  • It actually keeps well for lunch the next day, which is basically a miracle for grain salads
02 -
  • Hot quinoa will make fresh herbs wilt immediately, so give it at least 10 minutes to cool before mixing everything together
  • The salad actually tastes better after it sits for a bit, so don't be afraid to make it a few hours ahead
  • If you're taking this somewhere, pack the dressing separately and toss it right before serving to keep everything crisp
03 -
  • Toasting your quinoa in a dry pan for 2 minutes before adding water gives it this amazing nutty flavor
  • Massaging your vegetables with a little salt before mixing draws out excess water and keeps everything crisp longer
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