Description
A quick and nutritious Lemon Herb Quinoa with Chickpeas, perfect for busy evenings, featuring fresh herbs and protein.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup quinoa, uncooked, rinsed
- 2 cups vegetable broth or water
- 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained (15-ounce / 425g)
- ½ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- ¼ cup fresh mint, finely chopped
- ¼ cup fresh dill, finely chopped
- 3–4 green onions, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1–2 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ – ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
- ½ cup cucumber, diced (optional)
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered (optional)
- ¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
- ¼ cup kalamata olives, pitted and halved (optional)
Instructions
- Rinse the quinoa in a fine sieve under cold water for about 30 seconds until the water runs clear.
- In a medium pot, add the rinsed quinoa and vegetable broth, bringing it to a boil over high heat.
- Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes until the liquid is absorbed.
- Remove from heat and let it sit for 5 minutes, covered. Fluff with a fork.
- Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, lemon zest, salt, and pepper in a small bowl to form a dressing.
- Mix the cooked quinoa with chickpeas, parsley, mint, dill, and green onions in a large bowl.
- Pour the dressing over and toss gently to combine.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve warm or at room temperature, optionally topped with cucumber, cherry tomatoes, feta, or olives.
Notes
Ensure proper rinsing of quinoa to avoid bitterness. Let the quinoa rest after cooking for the best texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 11g
- Cholesterol: 5mg