False Alarm-Free Quinoa Salad

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-03-31 · Updated 2026-03-31

A refreshing quinoa salad with crisp vegetables and a zesty lemon-tahini dressing, designed to keep your taste buds alert and satisfied. This mediterranean-inspired salads ready in about 35 minutes pairs quinoa, cucumber, red onion 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 210 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 red onion
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp tahini
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Cook quinoa in 2 cups water according to package instructions. Let cool completely.
2. Step 2: Dice cucumber, red onion, and cherry tomatoes. Toss with cooked quinoa in a large bowl.
3. Step 3: Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, tahini, salt, and pepper into a dressing. Pour over salad and toss until evenly coated. Chill for 15 minutes before serving for a crisp, refreshing finish.