Quinoa Salad with Grilled Vegetables and Feta

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

Ingredients

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

Preparation

1. Cooking the Quinoa:

   • Rinse the quinoa under running water to remove the bitter taste.
   • In a pot, bring twice the volume of water to a boil 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 it rest with the lid on for 5 minutes.

2. Preparing the Grilled Vegetables:

   • Wash and slice the bell peppers, zucchini, and eggplant into strips or slices.
   • Grill them on a hot grill or grill pan until they are tender and have the characteristic dark lines.
   • 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 cheese and add it to the salad.
   • Dress with extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, grated lemon zest, salt and pepper to taste.
   • Stir in the chopped fresh herbs.

4. Serving:

   • Gently mix all the ingredients together.
   • The salad can be served immediately or allowed 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 for taking to a picnic or for a work lunch. Enjoy your meal!