Tertiary Layered Quinoa Salad with Roasted Vegetables

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-08 · Updated 2026-05-08

A vibrant quinoa salad featuring three layers of roasted vegetables and a zesty lemon dressing, perfect for a nutritious lunch. This Mediterranean recipe (vegetarian, gluten free), ready in about 45 minutes, pairs quinoa, water, zucchini for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with rice, quinoa, or a quick salad. 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 medium, diced into 1/2-inch cubes zucchini
• 1 large, diced into 1/2-inch cubes red bell pepper
• 1 small, diced into 1/2-inch cubes eggplant
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 minced garlic clove
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss 1 diced zucchini, 1 diced red bell pepper, and 1 diced eggplant with 3 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper on a baking sheet. Roast for 25 minutes, stirring halfway until tender and slightly caramelized.
2. Step 2: Rinse 1 cup quinoa under cold water. In a medium saucepan, combine quinoa with 2 cups water, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy.
3. Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk 3 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp olive oil, and 2 minced garlic cloves until emulsified.
4. Step 4: In a large bowl, layer cooked quinoa, roasted vegetables, pour lemon-garlic dressing over, and gently toss to combine.
5. Step 5: Fold in 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley and 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese. Serve warm or at room temperature.