healthy quinoa recipes

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad Recipe

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Mediterranean Quinoa salad

Mediterranean quinoa salad is easy to make, tastes great, and is a healthy choice for a better diet. This quinoa recipe is a perfect entree or side dish, either hot or cold. Quinoa cooks up similar to rice, in fact, you can substitute quinoa for rice in most recipes, so give quinoa a try.

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad Recipe Ingredients :

1 cup QUINOA
2 cups packed SPINACH
10-15 CHERRY TOMATOES (sliced in halves)
3 cloves chopped GARLIC
½-1 cup FETA cheese
¼ cup fresh BASIL
1 med chopped ONION
1 Tbsp OLIVE OIL for sautéing the onion
1-2 Tbsp mild VINEGAR
SALT and PEPPER to taste
1 tsp dried HERBS (thyme, basil, oregano, etc.)

mediterranean quinoa salad
Mediterranean Quinoa makes a great entrée or side dish.

How to Make Mediterranean Quinoa :

Bring 2 cups of salted water to a boil.
Add 1 cup of quinoa (at this time also add any dried herbs). Cover and let simmer 15 minutes, until the water is absorbed.
While the quinoa cooks, sauté the onions and garlic.
Once quinoa is cooked, remove from the heat and while the quinoa is still hot, stir in the spinach and basil until wilted, then add the onion and garlic.
Let Quinoa cool about 10 minutes, and then stir in the cherry tomatoes, vinegar, feta cheese, and extra salt and pepper as desired.
Serve warm or cold, it’s tasty either way.
Give this Mediterranean quinoa salad recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

Sometimes quinoa is pricey, but by shopping around, you can often find a better deal. See current prices for quinoa on Amazon. I like to buy quinoa in the bulk bins, or sometimes you can find a good deal on quinoa in the rice section. Quinoa in the “health” or “natural foods” section is often over-priced, so definitely look around for the better deal, because it’s out there!

For another flavor twist, try this Southwest inspired quinoa salad recipe.

southwestern quinoa salad
a southwestern quinoa salad makes a tasty and healthy dinner choice.

And for another more easy quinoa dishes, check out my quinoa recipe playlist on the Chef Buck Youtube Channel.

Thanks for checking out this Mediterranean quinoa recipe, and be sure and sign up for our mailing list so you’ll never miss a Chef Buck cooking video, and also click a button below and share the dishes with your friends. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!

We appreciate you watching our recipe videos!

We include affiliate links for products on our website, so if you make a purchase after clicking on our links, we may earn a commission which helps us produce more videos and drink more coffee :^) We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which is an affiliate advertising program that provides a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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Quinoa Salad Recipe – Vietnamese Bánh Mì Style

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A quinoa salad recipe inspired by the tasty flavor combinations found in a Vietnamese bánh mì sandwich. Quinoa provides a complete protein, making this dish an ideal vegetarian recipe.

Quinoa Salad Recipe Ingredients

1 cup QUINOA (uncooked)
2 cups DAIKON/CARROT RELISH (chopped)
2-3 JALAPENOS (finely chopped)
2 cups SALAD CUCUMBER (diced)
1 cup chopped CILANTRO
3 Tbsp MAYONNAISE
1 small LEMON (zest and juice)
2 Tbsp rice VINEGAR
SALT and PEPPER to taste
SALAD GREENS (I use a combo of Spinach and Red Leaf Lettuce, but use your favorite)

How to make a Bánh Mì Quinoa Salad

Cook up the quinoa just like rice: 1 part quinoa to 2 parts water, bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until the water is absorbed. Fluff the quinoa and then set aside uncovered to cool.

Prepare the veggies: Dice 1 large salad cucumber, also called an English cucumber; these are great in a salad because the skin is thin and quite enjoyable to eat, and also adds a nice texture. Finely chop 2-3 whole jalapeno peppers, seeds and all. Chop 1 bunch of cilantro, including the stems. Chop 2 cups of pickled daikon and carrot.

Quinoa Salad -- Banh Mi Style
Quinoa Salad — Banh Mi Style

Prepare the dressing: Remove and mince the zest from 1 small lemon and place in a small bowl. Add the juice from the lemon, rice vinegar, mayonnaise, and salt and pepper. Mix well until the dressing is smooth.

In a large bowl, place the cooled quinoa. Add ½ of the dressing, the jalapenos, cilantro, and daikon/carrot, and mix well. Add the diced cucumbers and toss. Add salt and pepper, and more dressing as desired. I also add a bit of the pickling solution from the daikon/carrot pickle.
Serve the quinoa salad over a bed of leafy greens and garnish with cilantro.

Give this banh mi quinoa salad recipe a try and let me know what you think!

If you’re new to home cooking, get a bunch of spices, pots and pans, and start experimenting with different recipes. It’s a healthy hobby that can save a lot of money in the long run. Check out current prices for Complete Kitchenware Sets on Amazon as well as Complete Starter Spice Kits. Or try a thrift store! I’ve found some of my favorite kitchen gear at second-hand stores.

For another Asian inspired vegetarian dish, try this Ramen Noodle Crunchy Slaw Recipe.

crunchy slaw
Crunchy coleslaw or noodle salad? What sounds tastier?

Thanks For Watching Our Recipe Videos!

Thanks for checking out this quinoa salad recipe, and all of our recipes. Be sure and sign up for our mailing list so you’ll never miss a new recipe. Also click a button below and share the dishes with your friends. You can also follow Chef Buck on Youtube. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!

If you like what CG and I do, you can also support us on Patreon, or throw us a tip in our Paypal Tip Jar. We’ll happily enjoy a coffee on the road – Thanks! We appreciate all the support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!

We include affiliate links for products on our website. So, if you make a purchase after clicking on our links, we may earn a commission which helps us produce more videos and drink more coffee :^) We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which is an affiliate advertising program. It provides a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites, so we can make more videos.

Share and Enjoy !

Rice Pudding –Try Quinoa Pudding instead

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rice pudding

Quinoa for dessert? If you like rice pudding, then give this quinoa recipe version a try; it’s super sweet and easy to make and yet another great way to include quinoa in your diet. Quinoa cooks up just like rice: one part quinoa to two parts water, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and then cook covered until water is absorbed. Quinoa acts like a grain, but it’s actually a seed–and a complete protein–so it’s a great addition to your diet if you’re trying to cut down on eating meats and rice.  Check current prices for quinoa on amazon.

Ingredients for Quinoa Rice Pudding

1 cup QUINOA
1 CINNAMON STICK
14oz can COCONUT MILK
2 tsp minced GINGER
¼ cup BROWN SUGAR
½ tsp CARDAMOM (or sub nutmeg)
1/3 cup RAISINS
1 tsp minced ORANGE PEEL
½ cup toasted COCONUT FLAKES and/or toasted ALMOND SLICES

rice pudding
Quinoa pudding makes a nice change-up from rice pudding–and it’s just as easy to make.

How to Make Rice Pudding with Quinoa

  • In a saucepan, combine 1 cup quinoa with 2 cups of water and a cinnamon stick.
  • Bring pot to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover pot and let cook 12-15 minutes until the water is absorbed.
  • Fluff and remove cinnamon stick and set aside.
  • In a small saucepan, combine 14oz can coconut milk, minced ginger, and brown sugar.
  • Slowly bring contents to a bubble, then reduce heat and continue stirring 5 minutes.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Add raisins, orange peel, and cardamom to quinoa (can sub nutmeg for cardamom). Mix well and then add coconut milk mixture.  Stir, then cover and set aside to cool about 20-30 minutes.  
  • Serve warm or chill and serve cold. When serving, garnish with toasted almond slices or coconut, or both.  The crunchiness of the toasted topping adds a great texture and I highly recommend giving it a try.  

The next time you’re in the mood for rice pudding, make quinoa pudding instead.  Give this quinoa recipe a go and let me know what you think!

rice pudding
quinoa pudding recipe


Try another delicious quinoa recipe idea: Spanish-Style Quinoa Recipe

spanish quinoa

Thanks for trying our Quinoa Rice Pudding

Click a button below and share the quinoa recipe with your friends. You can also follow Chef Buck on Youtube. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!

If you like what CG and I do, support us on Patreon, or throw us a tip in our Paypal Tip Jar. We’ll happily enjoy a coffee on the road – Thanks! We appreciate all the support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!

We include affiliate links for products on our website. Making a purchase after clicking on our links and we may earn a commission which helps us produce more videos and drink more coffee :^) We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which is an affiliate advertising program. It provides a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites, so we can make more videos.

Share and Enjoy !

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