07 Jun Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Intern Kylie here!

A couple days ago Robin asked me to make and photograph a couple quinoa recipes that she had developed for her client, Welch’s.

I was immediately excited! Mostly because I feel like anyone with an interest in a healthy lifestyle has an oh-so-slight obsession with quinoa (…myself included).  But as I read the recipe I realized that this quinoa salad was something very different from anything I had made before.

This recipe involves cooking the quinoa in Welch’s 100% Grape Juice so the protein-rich grain soaks up all the delicious grape-y flavor.  Add in some creamy feta, toasty walnuts and hummus-y chickpeas and you have yourself my new go-to Quinoa Salad recipe.

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Ingredients

2 cups Welch’s 100% Grape Juice made with Concord grapes

1 cup quinoa

2 T feta cheese

1 T toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped

1 T Greek olives, finely chopped

2 T chickpeas, skins removed

Juice from 1 lemon

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (reserve 1 T for garnish)

Directions

Cook quinoa according to package directions replacing the water with Welchs’ 100% Grape Juice made with Concord grapes.

Transfer cooked quinoa into a large bowl.  Add cheese, nuts, olives and chickpeas.  Stir gently.  Add juice from 1 lemon and parsley.  Stir gently.  When serving, add remaining parsley for garnish.  Serve warm.

Serves 6.

Serving size: approximately 1/2 cup

Nutrient Analysis

Calories 240

Calories from fat 50

Total fat 5 g

Saturated fat 1 g

Trans fat 0

Cholesterol less than 5 mg

Sodium 120 mg

Total Carbohydrate 40 g

Dietary Fiber 4 g

Sugars 9 g

Protein 8 g