Mediterranean Chickpea & Cucumber Quinoa Salad with Lemon Yogurt Dressing
This Mediterranean quinoa salad is light, refreshing, and protein-rich.
It combines fluffy quinoa, chickpeas, fresh vegetables, and a creamy lemon yogurt dressing.
Perfect for lunch, dinner, or meal prep.
Time Required
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
For Salad
Quinoa – 1 cup (washed)
Water – 2 cups
Boiled chickpeas – 1 cup
Cucumber – 1 cup (chopped)
Cherry tomatoes – 1 cup (halved)
Red onion – ¼ cup (finely chopped)
Fresh parsley – 2 tablespoons (chopped)
Feta cheese – ¼ cup (optional)
For Lemon Yogurt Dressing
Greek yogurt – ½ cup
Olive oil – 1 tablespoon
Lemon juice – 2 tablespoons
Garlic – 1 small clove (grated)
Salt – to taste
Black pepper – ½ teaspoon
Instructions
1. Cook quinoa in water for 15 minutes until soft. Let it cool.
2. In a large bowl, add cooked quinoa, chickpeas, cucumber, tomatoes, onion, and parsley.
3. In another bowl, mix yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper.
4. Pour dressing over salad and mix gently.
5. Top with feta cheese if using.
6. Serve fresh or chilled.
Tips
Rinse quinoa well to remove bitterness.
For vegan version, skip yogurt and feta and use lemon-olive oil dressing.
Add olives for extra Mediterranean flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Can I use white yogurt instead of Greek yogurt?
Yes, thick plain yogurt works well.
Q2: Can I store this salad?
Yes, keep in fridge for 1–2 days.
Q3: Is this good for weight loss?
Yes, it is high in fiber and protein.
Q4: Is it spicy?
No, it is completely non-spicy.
Nutritional Value
Calories: 320 kcal
Protein: 14 g
Carbohydrates: 38 g
Fat: 12 g
Fiber: 8 g