The Italian Quinoa Salad with Lemon Garlic Vinaigrette is my favorite way to eat quinoa. The Lemon Garlic Vinaigrette takes it to the next level. It’s delicious as a side or main dish, and you’ll love it either way.
This quinoa salad recipe is perfect if you’re searching for a light and healthy salad option. It includes zucchini, tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and arugula, bringing fresh and bright flavors. It’s a great pick for spring and summer and is always well-appreciated whenever I make it.
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Italian Quinoa Salad with sweet lemon garlic vinaigrette is light and refreshing, perfect for lunch or dinner. It is made with tomatoes, arugula (my favorite green), basil, zucchini, and fresh mozzarella cheese.
What is quinoa?
Quinoa is a seed with lots of protein and fiber. It is a better choice than rice, which is so delicious in this salad. It pairs perfectly with all the fresh flavors – I can’t get enough of it when making it.
It’s inspired by my Italian Kale Salad, which both the hubby and I love. I must admit it’s a shocker because he seems to be intolerant to anything green and leafy-like unless it is drenched in homemade ranch dressing. The kale salad, however, changed that, and I think it was because of the homemade lemon dressing, so I took many of those same ideas and came up with this recipe I’m sharing today.
This Italian quinoa salad turned out just perfect. Flavorful, yet light. And the best part is that it is an excellent source of protein.
This dressing is delicious and so simple to make. I like to make it first and then pop it in the fridge while I assemble the rest of the dish. That way, all the flavors meld together.
Ingredients
- Fresh lemon juice
- Olive oil
- Honey
- Minced garlic
- Salt and pepper
- Chopped basil
- Roughly chopped arugula
- Sliced and quartered zucchini
- Chopped fresh tomatoes (roasted tomatoes are delicious, too)
- Cubed fresh mozzarella
- Italian seasoning
- Pinch of salt
How do you make Italian Quinoa Salad?
Recipe Tips
To make things easier, you can prepare the dressing and cook the quinoa ahead of time. Then, you just add the veggies, toss, and serve it!
Quinoa salad will last two to three days in the refrigerator if kept in an airtight container.
This is such a wonderful dish to share at a potluck or BBQ! It holds well at room temperature, and the flavors match many other dishes.
You can also make it a main dish by adding some grilled chicken – a light and flavorful meal.
More Delicious Salad Recipes
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Italian Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups uncooked quinoa
- 3 cups water
- 1/4 cup fresh basil coarsely chopped
- 3 cups fresh arugula roughly chopped
- 1 cup zucchini quartered and sliced
- 1 cup fresh or roasted tomatoes chopped
- 8 ounces mozzarella al fresca drained
- 1 tablespoon Italian or Tuscan seasoning
- Pinch salt
Sweet Lemon Garlic Vinaigrette
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Make the vinaigrette by mixing together lemon juice, olive oil, honey, garlic, and salt in a small mason jar or bowl. Set in the fridge to chill until ready to serve.
- Prepare quinoa according to package directions.
- Once quinoa is cooked, set in the fridge and chill until completely cooled. Meanwhile prepare arugula, tomatoes, basil, and zucchini, chopping as directed.
- Once the quinoa has cooled, add to serving bowl, add arugula, basil, zuchinni, and tomatoes; gently toss to combine.
- Toss the fresh mozzarella with the tablespoon of Italian or Tuscan seasoning. Add the cheese with the seasoning to the salad.
- Add chilled dressing to the salad and gently toss.
- Serve immediately or set in the fridge until ready to serve, up to 1 hour before.
nourishing food to eat
I love it! The mix of textures and Mediterranean-inspired ingredients made for a delightful meal.
The Italian Quinoa Salad was a delightful and healthy dish! The combination of fresh veggies and quinoa with the Italian dressing was perfect. It’s great for meal prep and keeps well in the fridge.
I’m not usually a fan of quinoa but this stuff was great!
Love this recipe, thanks!!
You’re so welcome.