Cucumber quinoa salad recipe – This fresh quinoa salad with cucumber combines fresh herbs with fluffy quinoa, cucumber, tomato, and red onion, then tossed in a simple olive oil and lemon dressing for the most delightful salad recipe for any occasion. This quinoa cucumber salad is the perfect addition to any healthy dinner. Enjoy!
Table of Contents
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Ingredients list for the quinoa cucumber salad recipe
- 2 cups cooked quinoa, chilled
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 2 to 3 medium tomatoes, diced
- 1/2 red onion, thinly diced
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt and fresh cracked pepper, or to taste
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Easy quinoa cucumber salad recipe
This quinoa cucumber salad is great for lunch, dinner, or for taking to a potluck. It will pair with anything and you can make it in a cinch. We make this quinoa cucumber salad with fresh cilantro but you can use your own mix of herbs: basil, mint, or parsley. The cucumber quinoa salad keeps very well in the refrigerator if you would like to make it a couple of hours ahead. or bring it to a picnic or potluck. This simple quinoa salad with cucumber is fresh, and delicious and makes the perfect salad recipe for summertime or anytime!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Why you’ll love this quinoa salad with cucumber
- This quinoa salad recipe with cucumber is so easy to throw together, especially if you use leftover chilled quinoa.
- This salad is convenient for lunch, picnics, road trips, and meal prep.
- The quinoa salad is vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free, for everyone to enjoy.
How to make cucumber salad with quinoa
Nothing simpler! The most difficult part is to chop the ingredient very finely! We found that cutting the veggies into smaller pieces allows the cucumber salad to better mix with the dressing and makes it easier to serve. Chop the cucumber, tomato, and red onion, add them to a large bowl with cooked quinoa, sprinkle with salt and pepper, drizzle with lemon juice and olive oil, add cilantro, and mix everything together. Easy!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Directions
1. To make the cucumber quinoa salad: Dice cucumbers, onion, and tomatoes into small cubes. You can soak diced the red onion in water for 10 minutes so the taste isn’t as strong.
2. Add cooked quinoa to a large salad bowl and add the diced veggies and chopped cilantro on top and pour over the olive oil and lemon juice then season with salt and pepper.
3. Mix together and let the quinoa cucumber salad sit for 10-15 minutes before serving at room temperature or lightly chilled. Enjoy! ❤️
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Tips for the cucumber quinoa salad recipe
- Choose a very good quality olive oil for the best flavor!
- You can switch cilantro for other fresh herbs such as mint, parsley, basil, or even dill.
- Some great additions to this quinoa cucumber salad are olives, chickpeas, red bell peppers, pine nuts, and feta cheese to give it a nice and refreshing Mediterranean twist.
- If you like to add some protein to the quinoa salad: Add grilled chicken, hardboiled eggs, or shrimp to make the salad more substantial.
- If you’re not using leftover quinoa, we recommend cooking quinoa beforehand and letting it chill in the refrigerator before making the salad.
How to cook quinoa?
Cooking quinoa is very simple: Cook 1 cup quinoa in 3 cups salted boiling water for 12-15 minutes, or until it is chewy and tender to the taste and looks translucent. Drain the cooked quinoa through a fine-mesh strainer. Transfer the cooked quinoa back to your saucepan, removed it from the heat, and cover it with a clean dishtowel. Allow the quinoa to rest for 5 minutes. Fluff the quinoa with a fork and season as needed.
How to keep the quinoa cucumber salad?
Cover and refrigerate any salad leftovers in your refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Is quinoa cucumber salad good for you?
This quinoa and cucumber salad are inspired by the Mediterranean diet, one of the healthiest diets ever. It involves lots of veggies, healthy fats, and eating with temperance. Fresh ingredients and a simple dressing with olive oil and lemon juice make this salad super healthy.
Cucumber and quinoa salad dressing
You can use many different dressings for this quinoa cucumber salad recipe. Try this Greek salad dressing or this simple pesto vinaigrette for instance!
More salad recipes you might like
- 8 quinoa salads for easy, healthy lunches
- Healthy Chickpea Quinoa Salad
- Easy Tomato Cucumber Salad
- Cucumber Salad with Creamy Dill Sauce
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
