Mediterranean Quinoa Salad Bowl With Green Goddess Dressing

This Mediterranean Quinoa Salad Bowl with Green Goddess Dressing comes together in 15 minutes, and has a flavorful, colorful combination of healthy ingredients. Topped with homemade Green Goddess Dressing, this will be your new favorite feel-good dish!

The flavors of the Mediterranean in a bowl

I live to eat. There are so many dishes that I don’t just eat- I feel. Quinoa is one of those ingredients that just makes me feel like I am doing my body a service.

There are flavors that just taste healthy and fresh. Basil, thyme, rosemary all remind me of happy Summer days and healthy living. What if we just threw them all together to create a colorful dinner that makes you feel good when eating it, and allows you to regain some of that time that was misplaced throughout the day? The less time in the kitchen after work, the better, am I right?

What’s not to love about the Mediterranean flavors? Salty, acidic, and fresh! This rainbow in a bowl kind of dish has everything it needs to grab your attention. Take a bite and you will understand exactly what I mean.

This filling quinia bowl has freshly ripened avocado (because.. is anything complete without a side of fresh avocado?), chickpeas, fresh cucumber, and sun-ripened grape tomatoes tossed in olive oil and Italian seasoning and topped with red pepper flakes to help build the heat.

The best part is yet to come- you know you’re straight up Italian when you keep a bottle of pepperoncinis in your fridge like your life depended on it! These babies are so delicious right out of the jar! Salty, a little bit spicy, and they basically belong in any salad that will grace my dinner table. Obviously, they were welcomed in my quinoa bowl.

This bowl is not complete without a dressing that is as pretty as it is delicious. My Green Goddess Dressing beautifully mingles with all the flavors of the bowl, complimenting every tone and leaving you feeling refreshed and satisfied.

How to build a quinoa bowl

Start with a base- quinoa:

First, cook a cup of quinoa. This should feed 3-4 people. You don’t want to overwhelm your bowl with quinoa, it’s a compliment to the dish, not the whole flavor. Once the quinoa is cooked (usually takes about 10-15 minutes) add it to the bottom of each bowl you will be preparing.

Choose your vegetables

Next, select a good three vegetables you want to include in your quinoa bowl. I love the combination of cucumbers, red onions, and fresh tomatoes. There is something so fresh and balanced about it!

For this bowl, I ommited raw red onion, since my kids would be forced lovingly eating it. I grabbed up a 15 oz can of chickpeas, drained it, and tossed it in a bowl with diced cucumbers and tomatoes. Next, I drizzled 2 TBS of olive oil, and 1 tsp of Itlian seasoning and a pinch of salt. Give it a good stir, and this could be a salad on it’s own!

Canned goods

Chickpeas, kalamata olives, and pepperoncinis are all canned goods that I cannot live without! They make for a great addition to many dishes and salads. We’ve all been guilty of putting olives on the tip of our fingers, eating them right out of the can… right?

Drain the chickpeas, give them a good rinse, and toss them in with the cucumbers and tomaotoes, as they will be getting a little seasoning and love.

Pluck the kalamatas and pepperoncinis out of the jar and just place them in your quinoa bowl.

Make the dressing

You wouldn’t be caught dead eating bland food, would ya? Although this dish has flavor on it’s own, especially the seasoned chickpea, cucumber, and tomato salad, this needs a little more acid and salt to really please the senses.

Now it’s time to get saucy.  My Green Goddess Dressing is a quick blender recipe that takes all of 5 minutes to toss together.  Trust me, you don’t want to miss this step.  This is what really pulls everything together and creates a melody of flavors.  Each bite brings a new taste and freshness.

Not a fan of dressing? Maybe you don’t even have the time to throw it together. Open up a container of your favorite hummus and place on this side of your quinoa bowl. Ta-da! We pulled through with one spectacular looking, fabulous tasting meal… all under 20 minutes (and that’s at a granny’s pace!).

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