Best Choice Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-02 · Updated 2026-04-02

A refreshing, protein-packed salad with quinoa, cucumbers, feta, and a zesty lemon-olive oil dressing. This mediterranean-inspired salads ready in about 45 minutes pairs quinoa, cucumber, kalamata olives into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa
• 1 cucumber
• 1/4 cup kalamata olives
• 1/2 cup feta cheese
• 1/2 red onion
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp dried oregano

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup quinoa in a fine mesh strainer. In a pot, combine quinoa with 1.5 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
2. Step 2: In a bowl, dice 1 medium cucumber, 1/2 small red onion, and 1/4 cup kalamata olives into 1/4-inch cubes. Add 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese.
3. Step 3: In a separate small bowl, whisk 3 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp lemon juice, and 1 tsp dried oregano. Pour over the salad and toss to coat.
4. Step 4: Chill for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional feta and olives.