Greek Quinoa Salad

This Greek quinoa salad is bursting with fresh flavor! Tangy kalamata olives and sun-dried tomatoes mix with zesty Greek dressing, satisfying quinoa, and plenty of fresh veggies for a delicious meal or side.

Have you ever gone out to eat and had something SO GOOD, you wished you could eat it every day at home?

I feel like this happens to me ALL THE TIME, and most recently, the quinoa salad from Zoe’s Kitchen is making me drool just thinking about it.

I haven’t quite figured out what they put in their dressing, but I have come up with a Greek quinoa salad that is so good that it’s giving Zoe’s a run for its money.

My husband had it for lunch three days in a row and STILL asked for more!

GREEK QUINOA SALAD

As amazing as my Greek quinoa salad is, it’s not a true copycat recipe of the Zoe’s Kitchen salad.

• Zoe’s has lettuce. Mine doesn’t.
• Zoe’s has cabbage. Mine doesn’t.
• Zoe’s has a lemony sort of dressing. Mine doesn’t.

But my take on Zoe’s quinoa salad is still delicious (maybe even better!) because:

• It uses ingredients you can easily get at the local grocery store.
• You can whip up the dressing with what’s already in your pantry.
• Quick prep time. It takes less than 10 minutes to assemble.
• My favorite part is that it can be made in less than 30 minutes, including the time to cook the quinoa and make the dressing.
• Plus, it stores well, so you can make it ahead of time!

MEDITERRANEAN QUINOA SALAD INGREDIENTS

Let’s break down what we have going on in this Mediterranean quinoa salad.

QUINOA

Obviously, you need quinoa. Ever since I learned how to make quinoa in the Instant Pot – IN JUST ONE MINUTE – I’m sold. We’d have quinoa every night if it were up to me!

Remember these tips when making quinoa:

• Rinsing quinoa is SUPER important. Take your time and don’t rush the rinsing step. Otherwise, your quinoa will taste soapy. A rinse in cold water with a fine mesh strainer will do the trick.
• Quinoa can be frozen ahead of time! I cook in bulk, making massive batches of quinoa in my 8-quart Instant Pot and freezing it in 4-cup portions. I highly recommend batch cooking like this to help you save time in the kitchen.
• Don’t be fooled by pre-cooked quinoa at the grocery store. I saw an ad at Trader Joe’s for 16 oz of cooked quinoa for $3.99, which is like paying nearly $12 per pound of uncooked quinoa. YOU GUYS. You can get 4.5 pounds of organic quinoa at Costco for $9.99 – just $2.22 per pound! Save yourself TONS of money and cook it yourself.

SALAD DRESSING

I’m using my own homemade Greek Salad Dressing, which is so yummy that it could easily pass for a restaurant’s Greek dressing. Made with the usual ingredients of red wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, salt, black pepper, oregano, garlic, and other spices.

You won’t need the entire batch of this zesty vinaigrette for the meal, so make sure you add another Greek night to your meal plan later in the week to use up this bright, flavorful dressing.

Note: If you aren’t a big fan of Greek flavors, try this Crunchy Vegetable Quinoa Salad with Thai Peanut Dressing. It’s just as tasty but with a completely different flavor profile!

REQUIRED VEGETABLES

Personally, I don’t think any meal can be called Greek unless you have kalamata olives and sun-dried tomatoes. But that’s just me.

When the budget is tight, and I can’t afford pitted kalamata olives and sun-dried tomatoes OR I’ve already used up both jars and I need to make do with what I have, I would use black olives and cherry tomatoes in a pinch.

But I’d be lying if I said it was just as good. Because it’s not. The kalamata olives and sun-dried tomatoes MAKE this recipe, so please don’t skip them if you don’t have to!

OPTIONAL VEGETABLES

I’m a HUGE fan of adding as many vegetables as I can to my meals, so we’re using crisp cucumbers, crunchy red bell peppers, and tangy red onions in this Greek quinoa salad recipe.

All three of these veggies add crunch and authentic Greek flavor to the dish.
Other optional veggies include:

• Kale. Chop it into tiny pieces, massage it with some Greek salad dressing, and toss it with the salad.
• Avocado. Dice it up and add it on top of the salad at the very end.
• Fresh Dill or Parsley or Mint. Totally not a vegetable, I know, but if you happen to have any leftover fresh herbs from another dish, here’s your chance to use them up before they get slimy in the back of the fridge!

QUINOA SALAD IDEAS FOR PROTEIN

• Shredded Chicken. That’s what the kids and I added to our salads.
• Steamed Shrimp. My husband chose this easy protein.
• Ground beef or sliced steak are also yummy options.
• Add chickpeas to make this a vegetarian dish.
• Your protein options here are endless, and this is the PERFECT meal to add that random cup or two of leftover protein to the fridge. Even a bit of salty feta cheese or toasted pine nuts will increase protein just a smidge. It all adds up when you’re counting macros!

HOW TO MAKE GREEK QUINOA RECIPE

Instructions to cook quinoa: I use this Instant Pot method. But you can also simmer in a medium saucepan. Boil in water or chicken broth for extra flavor! Once cooked, fluff with a fork to prevent it from sticking together.

Step 1. In a large bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, English cucumber, bell pepper, onion, olives, and tomatoes.

Step 2. Toss to mix together well.

Step 3. Combine the salad dressing ingredients in a mason jar and shake vigorously to mix.

Step 4. If using the kale, combine the kale and ¼ cup of dressing in a large bowl. Massage the leaves with the dressing until they are all thoroughly wet. Combine the kale and protein, if using, with the quinoa salad and toss.

Step 5. Sprinkle with feta cheese and serve at room temperature.

SERVE GREEK QUINOA SALAD RECIPE WITH

This Greek quinoa salad recipe could easily be a stand-alone meal, but you could also serve it with:

• A side salad (with the extra Greek Dressing!)
• Our Favorite Homemade Hummus with sliced veggies or pita chips, or Homemade Pita Bread (SO GOOD fresh out of the oven)!
• Lemon Pepper Salmon or your favorite fish
• Mediterranean Grilled Cheese

And it makes great leftovers for lunch the next day! The quinoa soaks up the dressing, and the flavors meld together. Yum! You can store kale and quinoa salad in an airtight container for up to 4 days, so go ahead and meal prep this one for this week’s lunches too.

Eating leftovers for lunch or other meals is one of the easiest ways to cut down your grocery budget. For even more tips on lowering your grocery bill, check out the FREE Fight Inflation Workshop. These three video sessions focus on saving money on groceries NOW, despite the rising cost of food. Find out more here.

QUINOA SALAD IDEAS FOR MACRO TRACKING

Quinoa is the star of this salad because it already contains some protein on its own. To really boost the protein, add multiple protein options from the quinoa salad ideas listed above. Chicken and shrimp are yummy together, and chickpeas are easy to add with any protein.

Quinoa is also fairly high in carbohydrates, so if you’re looking to lower your carbs, one easy trick is to use less quinoa and double the veggies. This helps you fill your plate with produce and keep your macros where you want them to be for the meal or the day.

The fat here is just about perfect in my opinion – you get a bit from the feta cheese and a bit from the dressing. If you do need to lower your fat intake, skip the cheese or serve the dressing on the side and just give the salad a small drizzle.

FETA AND QUINOA SALAD FAQS

MORE DELICIOUS MEDITERRANEAN RECIPES

• Blackened Salmon
• Vegetable Greek Salad
• Greek Pasta Salad
• Marinated Lentil Salad
• Greek Couscous
• Mediterranean Grilled Cheese