Herbed Quinoa Salad
Fluffy quinoa with cucumber, herbs, and lemon — the lunch that keeps its promise till 3pm.
Ingredients
- 200 g Quinoa
- 1 Cucumber
- 1 Lemon
- 3 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- ¾ tsp Salt
- 150 g Cherry tomatoes (optional)
- 4 tbsp Parsley (optional)
- 2 Scallions (optional)
Method
- Rinse the quinoa in a fine sieve until the water runs clear.
- Simmer the quinoa in plenty of salted water in a covered saucepan over low heat until the spirals show, about 15 minutes.
- Rest the cooked quinoa off the heat, covered, for 5 minutes, then fluff it with a fork.
- While the quinoa cooks, dice the cucumber, halve the tomatoes, and slice the scallions.
- Chop the parsley, then zest and juice the lemon.
- Toss the fluffed quinoa with the vegetables, parsley, lemon zest and juice, and the olive oil; season to taste.
- Serve at room temperature, or chill it for lunch tomorrow.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Herbed Quinoa Salad
This herbed quinoa salad sits in the Mediterranean tradition of grain-and-herb salads, close cousin to tabbouleh but built on protein-rich quinoa instead of bulgur. The grain is rinsed to strip its naturally bitter saponin coating, simmered until the little spirals uncurl, then rested and fluffed so it stays light and separate rather than gummy. Tossed while still slightly warm with cucumber, cherry tomatoes, parsley, scallions, and a dressing of lemon and extra-virgin olive oil, the quinoa drinks in the acidity and finishes clean and fresh.
It eats crisp and bright, with juicy tomato, cool cucumber crunch, and a green, grassy lift from generous parsley cut through with lemon zest and juice. Because it holds its texture and doesn't wilt, it is genuinely good hours after it's made, which is exactly what you want in a packed lunch or a make-ahead dish for a warm day. Serve it at room temperature alongside grilled fish or chicken, fold it into a mezze spread, or eat a bowl on its own. Naturally vegan and light, it is the rare healthy lunch that still tastes like something you'd choose rather than settle for.
Herbed Quinoa Salad: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Herbed Quinoa Salad?
A serving has about 305 calories — 8.6g protein, 38.9g carbs, 13.7g fat, 5.2g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Herbed Quinoa Salad gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Herbed Quinoa Salad has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
How long does Herbed Quinoa Salad take to make?
About 25 minutes start to finish, but only around 13 of those are hands-on — the rest is largely unattended cooking time you can step away from. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Herbed Quinoa Salad?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out cherry tomatoes, parsley, scallions — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Herbed Quinoa Salad make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.