Memorial Park Garden Vegetable Quinoa Salad

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-27 · Updated 2026-05-27

A fresh quinoa salad packed with colorful garden vegetables, perfect for a light, nutritious meal. This Mediterranean-inspired salad recipe (vegetarian, gluten free), ready in about 25 minutes, pairs quinoa, water, cherry tomatoes 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
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup, halved cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium, diced cucumber
• 1 medium, diced red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup, finely chopped red onion
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 cup crumbled (optional) feta cheese

The chef’s knife we’d prep this with → Best Chef's Knives for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup quinoa under cold water. In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil. Add quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy. Remove from heat and let cool.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, combine 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, 1 diced medium cucumber, 1 diced red bell pepper, 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion, and 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley.
3. Step 3: Once quinoa has cooled, add it to the bowl with vegetables. Stir gently to combine.
4. Step 4: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 3 tbsp olive oil, 3/4 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
5. Step 5: Pour the dressing over the quinoa and vegetables, tossing lightly until everything is coated.
6. Step 6: If desired, sprinkle 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese on top before serving chilled or at room temperature.