May 20, 2024

RECIPE I Quinoa salad with feta and green herbs

For the month of June, a time when you can fully enjoy the outdoors and the sun, Dries' summer quinoa salad with fresh herbs and feta is a perfect dish. It's light, nutritious, and uses the freshest seasonal produce. This dish is ideal for picnics, outdoor lunches, or as a quick and healthy evening meal.

Ingredients:

For the salad:

- 200 g quinoa

- 400 ml water or vegetable stock

- 1 cucumber, diced

- 250 g cherry tomatoes, halved

- 1 red onion, chopped

- 150 g feta, crumbled into chunks

- a handful of fresh mint, chopped

- a handful of parsley, chopped

- a handful of basil leaves, chopped

For the dressing:

- 3 tablespoons olive oil (use a tasty cold-pressed olive oil such as Domaine de Valdition or Nittardi)

- 1 lemon, squeezed

- 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped/pressed

Preparation method:

How to cook quinoa:
Rinse the quinoa under cold running water. Place the quinoa in a pan with 400 ml water or vegetable stock. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until all the liquid has been absorbed. Remove from the heat and let it sit covered for 5 minutes. Then fluff the quinoa with a fork and let it cool to room temperature.

Dressing:
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, pressed garlic, salt and pepper to make a dressing.

Mix salad:
In a large bowl, combine the cooled quinoa, cucumber cubes, halved cherry tomatoes, finely chopped red onion, crumbled feta, and the green herbs. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well. Taste and adjust salt and pepper to taste.

Cooling and serving:
Let the salad sit in the fridge for a while before serving, so that the flavors can mingle. This step is optional but recommended for the best flavor.

This summer quinoa salad is a colorful and flavorful addition to any meal and can also be used as a side dish at a nice barbecue. It is also versatile; you can add or remove ingredients based on what you like or what is in season or use up leftovers from whatever veggies are in the fridge. Enjoy!