Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl with Hummus (Printable)
A vibrant, nutrient-packed bowl featuring fluffy quinoa, crisp vegetables, creamy hummus, and tangy Mediterranean flavors.
# What You Need:
→ Grains
01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 2 cups water
03 - ½ teaspoon salt
→ Vegetables
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
06 - ½ red onion, thinly sliced
07 - ½ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
08 - 1 cup baby spinach or mixed greens
→ Protein & Toppings
09 - 1 cup hummus (store-bought or homemade)
10 - ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
11 - ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
→ Dressing
12 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
13 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
14 - 1 garlic clove, minced
15 - ½ teaspoon dried oregano
16 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
# Steps:
01 - In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water and ½ teaspoon salt to a boil. Add quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and let cool slightly.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
03 - Prepare vegetables: halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, thinly slice the red onion, halve the olives, and chop the parsley.
04 - To assemble, divide the cooked quinoa among 4 bowls. Arrange spinach, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and olives on top.
05 - Drizzle each bowl with the dressing. Add a generous scoop of hummus to each bowl.
06 - Sprinkle with feta cheese (if using) and fresh parsley.
07 - Serve immediately, or chill for later.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The contrast between warm quinoa and cool crisp vegetables creates this delightful temperature play that makes every bite interesting.
- You can prepare all components ahead of time and assemble in minutes when hunger strikes, which saved me countless times during busy workweeks.
02 -
- Never skip rinsing quinoa or youll end up with a bitter taste from the natural saponin coating.
- Assembling the bowls while the quinoa is still slightly warm creates a pleasant contrast with the cool vegetables and helps the dressing distribute evenly.
03 -
- Massage the red onion slices with a pinch of salt and splash of vinegar for 5 minutes to soften their bite while maintaining crispness.
- Cook the quinoa in vegetable broth instead of water for an extra layer of savory depth that elevates the entire dish.