This fresh and flavorful Cucumber Feta Quinoa Salad combines fresh dill with hearty quinoa, cucumber and red pepper. Tossed with olive oil and fresh garlic for the perfect salad for any occasion--a fresh salad with a mediterranean flair.
This recipe was originally published August 2016. Photos and copy were updated May 2020.
I used to be verrrry boring when it came to salads. But no more. Now I want them packed with EVERYTHING.
Cheese. Nuts. Veggies. Grains. Alllll the things.
And that to me makes a good salad. Lots of flavor; lots of crunch; and simple to make helps to!
This Cucumber Feta Quinoa Salad is EXACTLY that salad for me.
Whether you are heading to the BBQ or having a nice dinner with the family, this is a dish that you will love. And it is so simple to make!
What you need to make this Salad:
- quinoa: Obvious? Ha. Timesaver Tip: If you are in a pinch for time, most groceries have pre-cooked quinoa in the freezer section and sometimes even in the aisle where you find rice.
- cucumber: English Cucumbers are my absolute favorite. I find they have the best flavor and very few seeds compared to others.
- dill: Please, please, PLEASE use fresh dill if at all possible. It will make this salad all the better by 100000%
How to make this recipe:
There's really nothing to it. Toss the dressing together and you are almost done! I love a simple salad that comes together so easy! You are going to fall in love with the simplicity in which this feta quinoa salad comes together!
- Combine lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, sea salt and pepper in a small bowl. Whisk to combine. You can adjust the salt and pepper to this recipe as desired. Sometimes I even add it in at the end. (steps 1 and 2)
- Make sure the quinoa is not piping hot if you are making it fresh. I toss it in the fridge for a few minutes while I prep anything else I need.
- Combine quinoa, cucumber, red pepper, red onion, walnuts and dill and toss to combine. (step 3)
- Pour the dressing over top and toss well to make sure everything is evenly coated. Add the feta and fold it in gently. You are all set from there! (steps 4 and 5)
- While you can certainly eat the quinoa salad right away, I really think chilling for about 20 minutes allows the flavors to meld together. Just do what you need to do with the time that you have!
Notes:
- To make this mediterranean quinoa salad dairy free, simply omit the feta cheese. I know there are now vegan feta cheeses out there so maybe you can opt for that!
- To save time, you can prep your quinoa in advance. You can also buy it frozen or in the little microwave packs. Just check to make sure there isn't any seasoning on the quinoa.
- Make it a meal! Toss some grilled chicken or salmon right on top!
CHECK OUT THESE OTHER SALAD RECIPES:
- STRAWBERRY ARUGULA GOAT CHEESE SALAD WITH PRETZEL CRUSTED CHICKEN
- SPRING GREEN SALAD WITH HONEY CITRUS DRESSING AND SOURDOUGH CROUTONS
- TOMATO BASIL PASTA SALAD
- WATERMELON AVOCADO SALAD WITH FETA
DID YOU MAKE ONE OF MY RECIPES? LEAVE A COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW! I ALSO LOVE TO SEE YOUR LEMONS + ZEST RECIPES ON SOCIAL MEDIA–TAG ME @LEMONSANDZEST ON INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK!
Cucumber Dill Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
- 1 c quinoa, uncooked about 3 cups cooked
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1/4 c red onion finely diced
- 1 medium English cucumber
- 1 ½ c feta cheese crumbles
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- juice of one lemon
- ⅓ c olive oil
- ⅔ c chopped walnuts
- 1 - 2 T chopped fresh dill chopped
- ½ tsp cracked pepper
- ½ tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Prepare quinoa according to package and allow to cool. Chop veggies and dill. Cucumbers work best cut in quarters. In a medium mixing bowl, combine quinoa, pepper, cucumber, walnuts, dill and onion and stir to mix well.
- In a small bowl, juice lemon and add garlic, salt, pepper and olive oil. Whisk to combine.
- Pour mixture over salad and stir to coat evenly.
- Add feta and stir to combine.
- Chill for 15-20 minutes. Enjoy! Refrigerate leftovers and toss in an extra drizzle if a bit dry when serving next day.
Notes
- To make this mediterranean quinoa salad dairy free, simply omit the feta cheese. I know there are now vegan feta cheeses out there so maybe you can opt for that!
- To save time, you can prep your quinoa in advance. You can also buy it frozen or in the little microwave packs. Just check to make sure there isn't any seasoning on the quinoa.
- Make it a meal! Toss some grilled chicken or salmon right on top!
As as spring hits, I'm all about the salads too! Love salads that double as meals - like this one! So many of my fave flavors in here - cucumbers and dill!!
Yes, great for a meal or a simple side. Bonus!
this sounds so delicious!
Thanks Susie!
This is my kind of salad and I absolutely love dill 🙂 I have a few salad dishes I make with beans or lentils that I like to make a batch of and have as snacks throughout the week and this definitely goes under the same category as a nice alternative. Quinoa is so good - I just wish my family liked it - but oh well, I'm making it for myself!!
oh, my husband won't touch the stuff! ha!
My husband absolutely adores dill, so this might be a good way to get him to eat some quinoa (which he doesn't love as much!). I'd be tempted to add some tofu or tuna, too!
ooooh, I like where your head is, Alisa!
Loved the pictures and the recipes sounds yum
Thanks so much Asma!
This is one I will definitely try. It looks delicious and is heart healthy to boot.
bonus!
I am only now discovering how to use dill in my cooking. This is a perfect, new recipe for me to try with this herb.
yes, a super simple recipe to add dill to!
This looks delicious! I look forward to making it!
Thanks, Anne! Enjoy!
Love this! Grain-based salads with veggies are my go-to in the summer. Love you used your own fresh dill!
The fresh dill makes a world of a difference!
This recipe looks incredible! I love how dill pairs with quinoa. I can't wait to try this out, thanks for sharing!
Awww, thanks so much Brittany! I really hope you love it!