Protein-rich Mediterranean salad with quinoa, lentils, chickpeas, and fresh vegetables tossed in Greek vinaigrette.
# What You Need:
→ Grains and Legumes
01 - 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
02 - 1/2 cup dried green or brown lentils, rinsed
03 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
→ Vegetables
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 cucumber, diced
06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
07 - 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
08 - 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
09 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
10 - 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
→ Greek Vinaigrette
11 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
12 - 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - 1 clove garlic, minced
15 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
16 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
17 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
# Steps:
01 - In a medium saucepan, combine quinoa with 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes until water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and allow to cool.
02 - In a separate saucepan, cover lentils with plenty of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until tender but not mushy. Drain and allow to cool.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and pepper until fully emulsified.
04 - In a large bowl, combine cooked quinoa, lentils, chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, olives, and parsley.
05 - Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
06 - Top with crumbled feta cheese if desired.
07 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 3 days to allow flavors to meld.
