Description
A bright and zesty quinoa dish with chickpeas, fresh herbs, and a lemon-herb dressing. Healthy, filling, and perfect for meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
- 2 cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth (or water)
- 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Juice of 1 large lemon (about 3 tablespoons)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley (or a mix of parsley and dill)
- 1/3 cup finely chopped cucumber or bell pepper (optional)
- 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts or chopped almonds (optional)
- 2 tablespoons crumbled feta (optional)
Instructions
- Rinse the quinoa in a fine sieve and drain. Zest and juice the lemon, and chop herbs and vegetables.
- Bring the 2 cups broth (or water) to a boil in a small pot. Add the rinsed quinoa, stir once, lower heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes until the liquid is absorbed. Turn off heat and let sit covered for 5 minutes to steam.
- Fluff the quinoa with a fork and transfer to a large bowl to cool slightly.
- Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, Dijon, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Add the drained chickpeas, chopped parsley, and any chopped cucumber or pepper to the quinoa. Pour the dressing over and toss gently.
- Fold in toasted nuts and crumbled feta if using. Let the salad rest for 5–10 minutes.
- Serve warm in a bowl with extra lemon wedges on the side and enjoy!
Notes
Use unsalted broth for control over salt levels. Rinse quinoa to remove bitterness. Adjust lemon to taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 0mg