Invisible Herb Quinoa Salad

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-07 · Updated 2026-04-07

A refreshing quinoa salad with hidden herbs and lemon dressing that disappears into every bite. This mediterranean-inspired salads ready in about 40 minutes pairs quinoa, cherry tomatoes, medium cucumber 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 320 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 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium cucumber
• 1/4 cup red onion
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley
• 2 tbsp fresh mint
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup quinoa under cold water until water runs clear. In a saucepan, combine quinoa with 2 cups water and 1/4 tsp sea salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and let cool completely.
2. Step 2: While quinoa cools, dice 1 medium cucumber and 1/4 cup red onion. Halve 1 cup cherry tomatoes. Finely chop 1/4 cup fresh parsley and 2 tbsp fresh mint.
3. Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp sea salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until emulsified.
4. Step 4: In a large bowl, combine cooled quinoa, diced cucumber, red onion, cherry tomatoes, parsley, and mint. Pour dressing over the top and toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated and the herbs are distributed throughout.