As the weather turns hot, salads become the meal norm. However, while eating greens every day is good for your body, it is not enough to provide a balanced meal. Using healthy oils and whole grains is a means of bringing both flavor and rounded out nutritional profile to a salad. This dish incorporates the flavors reminiscent of the Mediterranean through sundried tomatoes and artichoke hearts while remaining hearty enough to be eaten as a stand-alone dish. For extra flavor, cook the quinoa in vegetable broth and omit the pinch of salt.

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
Yield: 4 servings

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Prep Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 1 cup quinoa, cooked and cooled
  • 1 zuchiini, chopped
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 cup sundried tomatoes, reconstituted and chopped
  • 1/2 cup artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 pinch sugar
  • 1 lemon, juiced

Instructions

  1. Whisk together the olive oil, salt, sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl. Toss the rest of the ingredients together in a large bowl until evenly combined. Drizzle on the lemon mixture and toss before serving. Make up to one day before serving and refrigerate for extra flavor.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 135Total Fat 5gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 0mgSodium 63mgCarbohydrates 21gFiber 4gSugar 6gProtein 5g

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Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Based in Kingston, Canada, Samantha Lowe has been writing for publication since 2006. She records her culinary and globe-trotting experiences online at www.samanthalowe.com/blog. A love of photography and cooking fuels this writing, with the end result usually enticing friends and acquaintances to 'loosen their belts'.

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