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Fresh Tomato, Mozzarella, and Herb Quinoa Salad

Fresh Tomato, Mozzarella, and Herb Quinoa Salad

My husband, Scott, has one of those little countertop garden systems that grows herbs, vegetables, or flowers from seed pods. The light that shines overtop is brighter than any light in our house and it’s on 16 hours a day.

The glow coming from his office at night makes a nice night light, but I wonder if the neighbours are curious as to what is really going on in the room where the light is almost always on and the blinds are always closed at night. Well, he is growing herbs (the legal kind). Basil (Genovese and Thai), mint, parsley, and cilantro. Some more successful than others.

Okay, so his little garden is going a little crazy. New growth, brown leaves, and massive roots.

A bouquet of herbs.

A bouquet of herbs.

It was time to pick off the remaining good, green herbs and make something with it. Of course, it’s not necessary to have a herb garden. All of the herbs used in this recipe can be found (usually) at your local supermarket year-round.

This salad is filling, simple, easy to put together, and full of fresh flavours. Quinoa, which makes up the bulk of the salad, is fluffy, slightly crunchy, and a little nutty in flavour. It is packed with protein, fiber,and is gluten-free. The mozzarella cheese is mild and slightly sweet, the tomatoes are juicy and sweet, and the lovely fresh herbs (basil, mint, and parsley)enhance the overall flavour.

Now onto the recipe.

Quinoa, mozzarella, tomatoes, olive oil, herbs, and lemon.

Mise en place {see Ingredients for amounts}. Cook quinoa according to package directions.

A bowl of quinoa with tomatoes, mozzarella, and herbs.

Place the remaining ingredients in a large bowl.

Tomatoes, mozzarella, and herbs tossed together.

Gently combine the ingredients. Cover and let it marinade in the refrigarator for at least 15 minutes.

Fresh Tomato, Mozzarella, and Herb Quinoa Salad surrounded by ingredients.

Once cooked quinoa is cooled down, carefully toss all the ingredients together. Add additional salt and pepper to taste and squeeze lemon juice on top.

Two bowls of Fresh Tomato, Mozzarella, and Herb Quinoa Salad

Bowl it up!

A close up of Fresh Tomato, Mozzarella, and Herb Quinoa Salad
Fresh Tomato, Mozzarella, and Herb Quinoa Salad

Fresh Tomato, Mozzarella, and Herb Quinoa Salad

Yield: 2 as a meal, 4 as a side
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

A filling, delicious quinoa salad featuring fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and herbs. Gluten-free, vegetarian, and nutrient-rich.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked quinoa
  • 1 cup grape (or cherry) tomatoes, halved or quartered
  • 1 cup fresh mozzarella cheese, diced
  • 2 tbsp sweet onion, finely diced
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
  • 1 tsp fresh mint, chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, finely minced
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice, plus more to finish
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Cook quinoa according to directions on the package.
  2. Meanwhile, combine the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl. Cover and let it marinade in the refrigerator as the quinoa cooks. Marinade for at least 15 minutes.
  3. Once the cooked quinoa is cooled, gently toss all the ingredients together. Salt and pepper to taste. Squeeze a little lemon juice on top if you would like. Serve immediately or chilled.

Notes

  • My quinoa took about 20 minutes to make. One cup of uncooked quinoa yielded three cups of cooked quinoa for me.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 519Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 517mgCarbohydrates: 43gFiber: 6gSugar: 3gProtein: 21g

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Hola Croqueta

Monday 23rd of January 2017

These photos make me want to jump into the screen and munch on this salad!!! YUMMMM! Thank you for sharing!

Marie @ Yay! For Food

Monday 23rd of January 2017

You're welcome! Thanks for stopping by!

Joyce

Monday 23rd of January 2017

This looks amazing! So fresh! I really love your one bowl meals, so easy to nom and watch netflix to. :) I love your huge bouquet of herbs haha! Who needs flowers when you have that! I bet it smelled awesome!

Marie @ Yay! For Food

Monday 23rd of January 2017

That bouquet of herbs was outrageous and it did smell great!

Erica

Thursday 19th of January 2017

Love the ingredients in this salad and this is awesome for me because I have been trying to incorporate more quinoa in our meal plans lately! Unfortunately, I don't have grow lights set up in the house, but I can't wait to make this when I have everything growing outside! Pinning for later for sure!

Marie @ Yay! For Food

Thursday 19th of January 2017

I am glad that you like this salad recipe! Thanks Erica!

mikaela | wyldflour

Thursday 19th of January 2017

I love how simply healthy this is! Fresh mozzarella is my favorite and quinoa is so high protein! Plus this will be a perfect on-the-go salad that will pack well for work. Thanks for giving me another salad to put into the lunch rotation!

Marie @ Yay! For Food

Thursday 19th of January 2017

You're welcome, Mikaela!

Romain | glebekitchen

Thursday 19th of January 2017

The world needs to eat more fresh mozzarella. I love the idea of this salad. It's like an amped up caprese salad with quinoa. Looks fantastic straight up but I'm just drooling thinking about this as a side for some grilled chicken seasoned with just salt and pepper.

Marie @ Yay! For Food

Thursday 19th of January 2017

That would be a wonderful combination! Thanks, Romain!

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