I love Greek food. There’s this restaurant here in Tucson called My Big Fat Greek Restaurant – it’s one of our favorites. Their menu offers plenty of delicious options, but our favorite meal is called “The Meat Lover’s Platter – Symposium of Ecstasy”.
This massive platter of meat, vegetables, moussaka, lemon potatoes, rice, and pita bread is incredibly delicious and I love that I can try a little of everything, but, the thing is so big that when we order it for 2 (the minimum), it feeds us for a week. Did I mention that all of that comes with a Greek salad to start? Well, their salad is what inspired this dish. We will always go back to the restaurant for the “Symposium of Ecstasy,” but I wanted us to be able to enjoy some Greek flavors at home, in a healthier way.
This salad definitely hits the spot for me! It combines quinoa (which I cook in chicken broth for extra flavor), crunchy vegetables, fresh herbs (I guess technically “herb,” singular), tangy red wine vinegar, salty kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese. AKA, a bowl full of deliciousness that will make and keep you feeling full.
You could eat this right after mixing together the ingredients, but I highly suggest you leave it in the fridge for a few hours for the flavors to meld. This makes a refreshing summer salad and it’s great for taking to work for a fresh lunch.
Greek Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked quinoa
- 1/2 medium cucumber, sliced and quartered
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1/2 cup kalamata olives, chopped
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta
- 2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
- 3 Tbs red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Pour all ingredients into a medium mixing bowl.
- Stir to combine.
- Store in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving. Serve chilled.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 185Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 191mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 3gSugar: 3gProtein: 5g
This information is just an estimate and may not be 100% accurate. Always double-check the nutritional information using your specific products and ingredients.
meeganjae
Saturday 27th of October 2012
Try cooking the quinoa in chicken brother and replace some of the chicken broth with fat-free greek salad drsg adds another dimension to the quinoa. I make this salad minus the tomatoes and olives for me, but I put them on the side for others. I lay a bed of baby lettuces (spring mix) on a platter, run the quinoa down the middle, place the veggies around the sides and place the feta and herbs on the top. Then people have the options of toppings. Great for a potluck or summer bbq.
Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking
Thursday 4th of October 2012
Okay now this is my kind of recipe! Looks delicious and it is something that I will be making really soon.