Vegetable-Packed Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-19 · Updated 2026-05-19

A fresh and colorful quinoa salad loaded with crisp cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, and feta cheese, tossed in a bright lemon-oregano dressing. This Mediterranean-inspired vegetarian recipe (gluten free), ready in about 25 minutes, pairs quinoa, water, cucumber for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 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, rinsed quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1 medium, diced into 1/2-inch cubes cucumber
• 1 cup, halved cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 cup, pitted and halved kalamata olives
• 1/2 cup, crumbled feta cheese
• 1/4 cup, finely diced red onion
• 1/4 cup, chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil. Add 1 cup rinsed quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy. Remove from heat and let sit covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, combine the cooked quinoa with 1 diced cucumber, 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, 1/2 cup pitted and halved kalamata olives, 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese, 1/4 cup finely diced red onion, and 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley.
3. Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 1 tsp dried oregano, 3/4 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper until emulsified. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine. Chill for 15 minutes before serving.