Without “gettin’ into our bizness” (as The Hubs would say), we are eating healthier this year with an emphasis on heart healthy dishes. I have been perusing lots of blogs and pins to find inspiration. (And can I just say there are some “Heart Healthy” Pinterest boards out there that I really have to worry about—I’m not sure the pinners understand about making hearts healthier!)
I found a really tasty sounding recipe in our local paper for Greek Whole-Wheat Couscous Salad. I didn’t have couscous but I did have some red quinoa. I also added peperoncini peppers to the mix.
Red Quinoa Greek Salad
Inspired by Greek Whole-Wheat Couscous Salad from The Tulsa World
1 c. red quinoa
1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced
1 pint cherry or pear tomatoes, halved
2 cucumbers, partially de-seeded and diced small
1 green bell pepper, small dice
1/2 c. halved Kalamata olives
1/2 c. sliced peperoncini peppers
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 c. Italian parsley, chopped
8 oz. feta, crumbled
Zest and juice of one lemon
1/3 c. red wine vinegar
1/2 c. olive oil
Salt and pepperRinse quinoa and cook according to directions on box. Fluff with a fork. Allow to cool.
Fluffy, red quinoa
In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled quinoa with the veggies, parsley, and cheese. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, vinegar, oil and salt and pepper. Add to salad and mix well. Season with salt and pepper more salt and pepper if desired. Serve room temperature or chilled.
I am so ready for summer! I am so ready for real gardening season (even though we have extended our growing season tremendously with the hoop houses). I have pulled beets, carrots, radishes and picked greens all winter!
But I had to buy cherry tomatoes, green peppers, and cucumbers for this dish. I would eat this everyday if I could for lunch. It is delicious!!!! (And this made a huge salad, so I did have it for lunch all week!)
I love it!
This will be perfect this summer with our own tomatoes and peppers and cucumbers. (It was my own parsley—does that count?)
I adore quinoa! It’s one of the few small grains that I’ll eat. The flavors in this sound perfect. I’m jealous of your year-round garden, no matter what you picked out of it (and yes, the parsley counts).
I know you will love this salad!
Love red quinoa…actually had some for the lunch too. Your salad looks delightful!
I need to make some more this weekend so I will quit eating lunchroom food!
Great use of quinoa in such a healthy and delish salad 😀
Cheers
CCU
Thanks, CCU.
Without getting into my bizness, I’ll say that this salad is just what I need!
:). Thanks, Jen. Hope it cures what ails ya.
I have yet to use quinoa but this salad looks like the recipe to try. Since I love all the flavors in it I am sure it is tasty. Can’t wait to try it.
Hope you can try it, Cindy.
Hahahaha!! IT took me 10 minutes to read this because your first line made me laugh so hard I cried! Of course, he sounds like he’s a city slicker because down in the SE part of the state it is “git into ar bidness” – “Z” is WAY to foreign! It’s a great recipe – here’s a secret: I’ve never tried something like this and I want to but am afraid mr. Picky Eater won’t eat it – so I’ll fix it and NOT tell him!!
My hubs liked it and he is picky when it comes to healthy stuff—so I feel your pain. I have to sneak stuff by him all the time. He did notice the chia seeds I put in the pancakes last weekend! Sometimes he will say this with a bit of a twang, so I may have misspelled! 🙂
[…] Red Quinoa Greek Salad […]
What a delicious looking salad! I haven’t cooked much with quinoa but I do have a bag in the pantry. It’s salad time and this looks like a great salad to try. thanks!
I just had some for lunch. (Yes, it was a LATE lunch!)
I love your tweak on Greek salad! I have some quinoa in my pantry!
We waver between eating healthy and well not so healthy, especially in the winter time. But with warmer weather approaching and gardening we will be way healthier. Time to blow the dust off my quinoa canister.
You have a quinoa canister? 🙂