Quinoa Salad with Grilled Vegetables and Feta

The quinoa salad with grilled vegetables and feta is a healthy and flavorful dish, perfect for a light yet nutritious meal. Here’s how to prepare it:

Ingredients

• Quinoa: 1 cup (about 200 g)
• Bell peppers: 2 (of different colors for a more vibrant presentation)
• Zucchini: 2 medium
• Eggplant: 1 medium
• Feta: 150-200 g
• Extra virgin olive oil: 4-5 tablespoons
• Lemon: 1 (both the juice and the grated zest)
• Salt and pepper: to taste
• Fresh aromatic herbs (basil, parsley or mint): to taste

Preparation

1. Cooking the Quinoa:

   • Rinse the quinoa well under running water to remove the bitter taste.
   • In a pot, bring to a boil twice the volume of water compared to the quinoa. Add the quinoa, lower the heat, cover and let cook for about 15 minutes or until the water is completely absorbed.
   • Turn off the heat and let rest with the lid on for 5 minutes.

2. Preparing the Grilled Vegetables:

   • Wash and cut the bell peppers, zucchini and eggplant into slices or strips.
   • Grill them on a hot grill or grill pan until tender and showing the classic dark grill marks.
   • Lightly salt and set aside.

3. Assembling the Salad:

   • In a large bowl, combine the cooked and cooled quinoa with the grilled vegetables.
   • Crumble the feta and add it to the salad.
   • Dress with extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, grated lemon zest, salt and pepper to taste.
   • Add the chopped fresh aromatic herbs.

4. Serve:

   • Gently mix all the ingredients.
   • The salad can be served immediately or left to rest in the fridge for a few hours to let the flavors meld.

This salad is perfect as a main dish or as a rich and flavorful side. It’s also great to take for a picnic or lunch at work. Enjoy!