This Kale Quinoa Greek Salad is a twist on a classic Greek salad packed with veggies, olives, and feta cheese with the addition of quinoa and baby kale spring mix for a nutritional boost, all tossed in a red wine vinaigrette. It's a delicious light meal on its own or also great topped with chicken for a heartier option.
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Why This Recipe Works
Quinoa is rich in fiber and contains twice the protein of rice with less calories and carbs, so it adds a ton of nutritional benefits to the classic greek salad. And kale is another nutritional powerhouse that's loaded with vitamins.
The combination of these two super foods and all the traditional Greek salad veggies and flavors is perfect for a hearty, healthy salad.
Ingredient Notes
- Quinoa - I like to mix red and white quinoa for a little extra color.
- Kale Sprink Mix- Baby kale spring mix is tender and gives an extra nutritional boost.
- Veggies - Cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, red onions
- Feta Cheese - Use chunk feta and crumble it yourself for the best taste.
How to Cook Quinoa
Cooking quinoa like rice, where it absorbs the water can be tricky. The easiest way to cook quinoa is in a large amount of boiling water, just like pasta. Then let it finish off with a few minutes to steam.
- Rinse the quinoa well to help remove the bitterness.
- Add 1 cup of quinoa to a large pot of boiling water. Cook for about 10 to 12 minutes, then drain and return to the pot and cover.
- Let the covered quinoa sit off heat. This will allow the quinoa to steam to finish cooking and help avoid mushy quinoa. After around 5 to 10 minutes, fluff the quinoa with a fork before serving.
How to Make Greek Quinoa Salad
- Add the kale spring mix and quinoa to a mixing bowl and toss to combine.
- Add the mixture to a serving bowl, then add the chopped veggies and top with the feta and olives.
- Drizzle the dressing over the top and gently toss to combine.
How to Make Red Wine Vinaigrette
Add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, and dijon mustard to a bowl and whisk to combine. Then season with salt and pepper to taste.
You can also use a jar or any other container with a lid and add all of the ingredients then close it up and shake well.
I recommend making the dressing at least 30 minutes ahead of time to allow the flavors to combine if possible. The dressing will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks.
More Greek and Mediterranean recipes
- Greek Chicken Souvlaki Kebabs
- Greek Yogurt Marinated Lamb Kebabs
- Grilled Chicken Caprese with Pesto
- Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
📖 Recipe
Kale Quinoa Greek Salad
Ingredients
Quinoa Greek Salad
- 1 cup quinoa, cooked
- 6 cups baby kale spring mix
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup green peppers, quartered and sliced
- 1 cup cucumber, seeded and sliced
- ½ cup red onion, sliced
- ¼ cup kalamata olives, pitted
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
Red Wine Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ cup olive oil
Instructions
Quinoa Greek Salad
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Rinse the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer for around 30 seconds, then add to the boiling water and cook uncovered for 10-12 minutes then drain.
- Return drained quinoa to the pot and cover. Allow it to sit off heat for 5-10 minute to steam and finish cooking. Then uncover and allow to cool. If making the quinoa ahead refrigerate until ready to use.
- Add the spring mix and quinoa in a large mixing bowl and toss until well combined. Alternatively, you can add the spring mix to individual bowls and top with a portion of the quinoa.
- Add the tomato, cucumber, green pepper, and onion then top with feta cheese and olives and serve with the red wine vinaigrette.
Red Wine Vinaigrette
- Add all ingredients to a bowl and whisk to combine until emulsified. If possible allow the dressing to sit for around 30 minutes for flavors to combine and whisk again just before serving.
Nutrition
* All nutrition information we provide are estimates based on third party calculators. We encourage you to calculate these on your own for accurate results.
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