Make this delicious Mediterranean quinoa salad in minutes! A vibrant, fresh, and highly nutritious salad combining bold flavors, crunchy textures, and wholesome ingredients all tossed in a tangy vinaigrette!
Quinoa gives us protein, fiber, and vitamin B among other things, so I love adding it to salads like my southwest quinoa salad or mango chicken quinoa salad. There is nothing better than having a healthy lunch or light dinner that I can put together in a pinch and keeps the kitchen cool in the summertime!
This Mediterranean quinoa salad recipe is one you’ll want to keep around all year long. It is a light, fresh, and wholesome salad loaded with fresh veggies, herbs, and lots and lots of flavor! It definitely screams summertime and is a great way to show off your homegrown veggies, but it’s also a quick and easy way to get in so many vitamins and nutrients throughout the winter months as well.
It’s a beautiful rainbow salad full of balancing flavors and textures. The crunch from the chopped bell pepper and chopped onion, a lovely tang from the vinaigrette which includes red wine vinegar and Italian seasoning, and a light yet satisfying bite from the arugula and chickpeas. When you hear Mediterranean quinoa salad with chickpeas, you might imagine a mouthful of grains and legumes. This isn’t the case with this dish at all! There is nothing that overpowers anything else and each ingredient has the perfect ratio in every bite!
Customize this recipe to your liking, switch up the color of the bell pepper or add in any of the additional ingredients listed below. You could also toss in some grilled chicken, grilled salmon, or diced avocado for added protein and good fat and switch up the dressing to a balsamic glaze rather than Italian dressing. It’s a great make-ahead salad and when thinking about meal prep, this will definitely be your new go-to. It’s easy, it’s super healthy and it’s delicious!
Is this Mediterranean salad gluten-free?
Absolutely! Quinoa is naturally gluten-free, as are the veggies, chickpeas, and all ingredients in the dressing. Not only is this beautiful salad gluten-free but it’s also, vegan, and dairy-free. To make completely sugar-free, swap the balsamic vinaigrette with apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. It will change the taste of the dressing, so it’s about preference.
What other ingredients can I add to this salad?
This recipe is super flexible! Below are just some bonus ideas of what you can substitute or add to an already perfect salad.
- Sundried tomatoes
- Feta
- Pine nuts
- Kalamata olives
- Pickled onions
- Goat cheese
- Pumpkin seeds
- Hemp seeds
- Cherry or grape tomatoes
Make ahead tips
There are a couple of ways to make this salad ahead of time. You can cook the quinoa a couple of days ahead of time and keep stored in the fridge. You can also chop up your veggies and store them separately along with preparing your homemade Italian dressing and keeping it in an airtight jar until ready to use. In an effort to streamline the process, you have everything ready to assemble.
Alternatively, you can assemble the entire salad with the exception of the dressing (but don’t toss yet), in a bowl and keep it in the fridge up to 24 hours ahead. Just before serving, add in the dressing and give it a toss.
How to store this quinoa salad
Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Once the salad has absorbed the dressing overnight you may find it tastes even better the next day!
More fresh salad recipes:
- Orzo salad with vinaigrette
- Easy caprese salad
- Italian Tortellini pasta salad
- Antipasto salad
- Pesto chicken pasta salad
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa , rinsed (or 1 cup cooked)
- 4 cups arugula
- 15 ounce can garbanzo beans , drained and rinsed
- 1 red bell pepper , chopped
- 1 cucumber , sliced and cut into 4
- 1/2 cup red onions , diced
- 1/4 cup fresh basil or parsley , chopped
Dressing:
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar , or balsamic vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt , more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper , more to taste
Optional: 1/4 cup feta cheese, 1/4 cup kalamata olives, 1/4 cup sundried tomatoes
Instructions
- Cook quinoa as directed on package. I like to cook it in chicken broth or with salt in the water. Once the quinoa is completely cooked, drain and set it aside to cool.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Add the onions if you'd like to have them pickle slightly. Set aside.
- Place the arugula in a large bowl. Then add the garbanzo beans, bell pepper, cucumber and onions. Add feta, olives and tomatoes if desired.
- Toss salad together with dressing and then top with fresh herbs. Season to taste. Serve at room temperature or chilled.
This salad was awesome, I served it with grilled chicken and it paired perfectly. This will be a staple this summer!!
Loving this dressing!! It adds great flavor & the quinoa makes it hearty!
I love all the different textures & flavors! I will be making this again for sure!