Mediterranean Quinoa Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing

This refreshing Mediterranean Quinoa Salad offers a delightful blend of flavors and textures, combining fluffy quinoa, crisp vegetables, and creamy lemon-tahini dressing. It’s a vibrant, nutritious dish perfect for any meal, packed with protein and fiber, making it suitable for a variety of dietary preferences.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup parsley, chopped
• 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 1/4 cup olives, sliced
• 1/4 cup tahini
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Rinse the quinoa under cold water and drain.
2. In a medium saucepan, combine quinoa and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes or until quinoa is cooked and water is absorbed.
3. Fluff the cooked quinoa with a fork and allow to cool slightly.
4. In a large bowl, combine the diced cucumber, bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, red onion, parsley, feta cheese, and olives.
5. In a separate small bowl, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper to create the dressing.
6. Add the cooked quinoa to the vegetable mixture and pour the dressing over the top. Toss to combine until everything is well coated.
7. Serve chilled or at room temperature.