Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

This quinoa dish is a hit each & every time I make it.  It is easy to prepare & tastes awesome with everything from grilled chicken to turkey burgers to steak....or fabulous all on its own!

Step 1: Prepare the Quinoa
I always purchase a pre-rinsed variety of quinoa, but if you cannot find pre-rinsed quinoa be sure to rinse it well before cooking.  Quinoa has an outer layer or husk that can taste bitter & earthy if not rinsed before cooking.

In a 2 quart sauce pan place 2 cups water, the juice of one lemon, 2 tsp. black pepper, 1 tsp. garlic powder, & a sprinkle of sea salt.  Stir in 1 cup pre-rinsed quino & bring to a boil.  Lower heat, cover, & simmer for approximately 10 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed.

Fluff quinoa with a fork & allow to cool

Step 2: Prepare the Salad Dressing
I prefer to make this dressing in a larger than needed batch in a shaker & keep the extra on hand for salads throughout the week.

In a shaker combine 1/2 cup red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar, 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, 1 Tbls. basil, 1 Tbls. oregano, 1 Tbls. black pepper, 1 Tbls. garlic powder, a sprinkle of sea salt, & a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.  Shake well.

Step 3: Make your Mediterranean Quinoa Salad!
Chop 1 cucumber into bite-size pieces.  Cut 1 pint grape tomatoes into halves.  Crumble 4 oz. feta cheese.  *Optional: slice 6-8 sun-dried tomatoes.  Combine all of these ingredients with the cooled quinoa & 1/3 of the salad dressing.  Stir well & refrigerate in a sealed container.

This recipe easily doubles for special events or to be eaten throughout the week.

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