High Protein Quinoa Chickpea Salad (Printable)

A vibrant, protein-packed salad with fluffy quinoa, hearty chickpeas, fresh vegetables, and creamy feta. Quick, easy, and delicious.

# Ingredient List:

→ Grains & Legumes

01 - 1 cup quinoa
02 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

→ Vegetables & Herbs

03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 cucumber, diced
05 - ½ cup fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped

→ Dairy

06 - ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled

→ Dressing

07 - 3 tbsp olive oil
08 - 2 tbsp lemon juice
09 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# Steps:

01 - Rinse the quinoa thoroughly under cold running water to remove any bitter coating.
02 - In a medium saucepan, combine the quinoa with 2 cups of water or vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and quinoa is tender. Remove from heat and let it cool for a few minutes.
03 - While the quinoa is cooking, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, and chop the fresh herbs.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled quinoa, chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, chopped herbs, and crumbled feta cheese.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
06 - Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
07 - Serve immediately, or chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes for a colder, more refreshing salad experience.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You can make it in under 30 minutes with ingredients you probably already have
  • The flavors actually get better after a day in the fridge, making it perfect for meal prep
02 -
  • Hot quinoa can wilt the fresh herbs and make feta melt, so let it cool for at least 10 minutes before mixing
  • Don't skip rinsing the quinoa or you'll taste the bitter saponin coating
03 -
  • Use vegetable broth instead of water when cooking the quinoa for deeper flavor
  • Toast the quinoa in a dry pan for 2 minutes before adding liquid for a nutty taste
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