Mediterranean Warm Quinoa Salad with Squash and Cauliflower
Mediterranean warm quinoa salad with cauliflower, squash and delicious sweet and salty flavors is best for healthy winter lunch or dinner.
Posted By Savita
Today, I'm here to share this Mediterranean warm quinoa salad which is loaded with winter vegetables such as butternut squash, cauliflower, bell peppers, and has delicious sweet and salty notes of honey, raisins, and feta cheese.
I'm calling it a quinoa salad but really it is a complete nutrient-packed mini meal. Few serving of veggies, whole-grain quinoa, antioxidant rich raisins, vitamin packed butternut squash, power punch of herb oregano and olives. All of these make it loaded, healthy, and not that quinoa-heavy. I like to keep quinoa salads full of veggies to not feel like I'm cheweing quinoa in all bites. You know what I mean? None of that quinoa-y feeling here!
Honestly, after indulging in holidays food whole December.. this salad is like refreshing healthy change. Speaking of which reminds me! OMG, you guys!! It is last week of December! Time fly seriously! Isn't it? This year has passed so quickly, I can't believe we will be welcoming 2017 in few days!
You guys, look at the colors of this salad. Does it look like boring or healthy stuff?! Don't you want to just dig-in and enjoy a bowl right now?!
Mission - Warm Winter-style Greek Flavor Salad!
Inspiration behind this quinoa salad was cravings for Mediterranean flavors. Who says you can only have cold Mediterranean salad with leafy greens, tomato, and cucumber?! I wanted a Greek salad which I can eat in winters and has none of the above - no leafy greens, tomato or cucumber. Not that I hate them. I love my greens but I don't like'em in warm salads. So, I deiced to pair sweetness of seasonal butternut squash with crunchy cauliflower, sweet bell peppers, and hearty nutty quinoa together!
Honestly, I did not regret a thing. It is actually a warm Mediterranean quinoa salad. A salad which you can actually eat whole winter long. Nutty quinoa with feta cheese and brine-y olives running through the sweet and sour vegetables... every bite of this salad is delightful and pleasantly refreshing. (a refreshing change from buttery Christmas cookies! ;))
Big Loaded Salad in 20 Minutes!
Big bowl of this salad comes together in just 20 minutes. I mostly have small diced butternut squash in freezer. But for this salad, I peeled and diced a fresh small squash. I used half for salad and froze half for making curry later. I cut squash in about half inch thick pieces which cook in just 5 minutes in saute pan. Just 5 minutes!! If you using a bigger dice or simply because... feel free to roast squash, cauliflower and bell peppers instead of sauteing.
I saute the veggies while quinoa was cooking. Quinoa is done in about 12 minutes. I let it sit for 5 minutes (to absorb as much liquid possible) while I finish cooking veggies and toss in the dressing.
Once veggies are ready, I mix quinoa with veggies in the same pan. Toss in feta cheese and warm Greek quinoa salad is ready to serve. simple, fast, and delicious!
If you too planning to get your diet on track coming year.?! This salad is perfect place to start early. It is nutrient packed and filling yet not at all boring. This salad is also gluten free and has good serving of anti-oxidants.
If you love Mediterranean flavors and like to enjoy warm salads, you're going to love this one. If serving for weeknight dinner, I like to serve some grilled chicken or fish on the side.
Wish you a wonderful holidays and Happy New Year 2017!!
-Enjoy
Savita
Few more warm quinoa salads from Chef De Home recipe collection:
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Quinoa (dried)
- 1 Cup Butternut Squash (small diced)
- 1 Cup Cauliflower (broken small florets)
- 1 Red Bell Pepper (seeds removed, small diced)
- 1/4 Olives (small chopped)
- 1 tsp Oregano
- 1/2 tsp Paprika
- 2 tbsp Lemon (juice)
- 1/2 Red Onion (small diced)
- 2 Garlic (cloves, minced)
- 1 tbsp Honey
- 1/2 Cup Feta Cheese
- 1/4 Cup Raisins
- 2-3 Green Onion (small chopped, for garnish, optional)
Directions
- 1. Rinse quinoa, add to a pot with 2 cups of water and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Bring to boil, then simmer for 12 minutes or until all water has been absorbed. Remove from heat, cover and set aside.
- 2. In a saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Add onion, garlic, and squash with oregano and saute until squash is fork tender but not mushy (about 5 minutes.) Stir in between to avoid burning garlic and spices.
- 3. Now, add in cauliflower and bell pepper with paprika and continue cooking for 3-4 minutes or until cauliflower is tender but still crunchy. Reduce heat to low. Add in honey, salt, raisins (if using), lemon juice. Mix well so that honey is well mixed.
- 4. Add in cooked quinoa, green onion, and feta cheese. Toss well to combine. Taste and adjust salt and black pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature with protein of your choice. Enjoy!
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