This Tricolor quinoa salad with pomegranate, walnuts and feta is bursting with flavor, texture and color and will delight both your senses and taste buds.

I must confess that I avoid food fads, or any fads for that matter, like the plague. That includes ‘superfoods’ like quinoa, chia and matcha…

When I finally cooked and ate quinoa myself I found to my utter amazement that I loved it. Subsequent exposure to a variety of Peruvian dishes containing quinoa made me realize how versatile it is.

I had been pondering what to do with my packet of Tricolor quinoa and this Tricolor quinoa salad with pomegranate, walnuts and feta salad turned out to be the perfect light lunch or dinner side.

I prepared the quinoa the night before, mostly cooking according to the package instructions. However, I pre-soaked the quinoa seeds in hot water for 5 minutes to remove the bitter taste and smell, and rinsed it thoroughly (3 times). I cooked it in vegetable stock instead of unseasoned water, and found that I preferred it to the overpowering flavor of the chicken stock used in my previous experiment.

I made two portions, in the hope that I could persuade my friend at work to join me, since she is a diagnosed diabetic. However, I had forgotten that she had the day off 🙁

Another colleague came into my office while I was having lunch and had a taste. She loved it so much she asked me to bring the second portion of Tricolor quinoa salad with pomegranate, walnuts and feta for her lunch the following day! I was thrilled that she loved it as much as I did!

If quinoa salad is not your thing why don’t you check out the Crayfish salad with avocado, red cabbage and cucumber,  the Chicken salad with cherry tomatoes, olives and artichokes or the Ultimate Summer Salad?

Tricolor quinoa salad with pomegranate, walnuts and feta

Course: Salad

Cuisine: South African

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Servings: 2

Calories: 1037 kcal

Author: Razena Schroeder

This Tricolor quinoa salad with pomegranate, walnuts and feta is bursting with flavor, texture and color and will delight both your senses and taste buds.

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Ingredients

• 120 grams tricolor quinoa seeds approximately 2/3 cup, covered and soaked in hot water for 5 minutes
• 250 ml vegetable stock water or stock per the package instructions for cooking
• 1 lemon grated rind and juice as required below
• 15 ml pomegranate molasses
• 15 ml chili infused olive oil
• 5 ml lemon juice
• 250 ml salad leaves
• 2 small cucumbers mine were approximately 12 cm long
• 60 ml chopped spring onions
• 60 ml chopped parsley
• 60 ml coriander leaves torn
• 60 ml mint leaves torn
• 125 ml pomegranate seeds
• 125 ml toasted walnuts chopped or roughly broken up
• 50 grams feta drained and crumbled

Instructions

1. Place the quinoa in a bowl and cover with hot water. Leave to soak for at least 5 minutes.
2. Rinse at least three times and drain the water.
3. Place the rinsed quinoa in small pot and cook in at least one cup of hot stock or hot water according to the package instructions.
4. When the quinoa is cooked, drain any water remaining in the pot and allow it to sit in the hot pot for about 15 minutes to fluff up.
5. Add the grated lemon rind, pomegranate molasses, olive oil and lemon juice to the warm quinoa and stir thoroughly to coat.
6. Allow to cool completely before adding slice cucumbers, spring onions, parsley, mint and coriander.
7. Mix together and add more lemon juice if required.
8. Add two thirds of the pomegranate seeds, walnuts and feta and toss lightly to combine without smashing everything.
9. Spoon the salad into a bowl and decorate with remaining pomegranate seeds, walnuts and feta and chill until required.

Recipe Notes

I have not added salt as the sour notes from the pomegranate and lemon juice were enough for me. Please add additional seasoning, as required.

Nutrition Facts

Tricolor quinoa salad with pomegranate, walnuts and feta

Amount Per Serving (150 g)

Calories 1037 Calories from Fat 540

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 60g 92%

Saturated Fat 9g 45%

Cholesterol 22mg 7%

Sodium 921mg 38%

Potassium 3217mg 92%

Total Carbohydrates 106g 35%

Dietary Fiber 21g 84%

Sugars 24g

Protein 35g 70%

Vitamin A 157.3%

Vitamin C 364.2%

Calcium 80.1%

Iron 129.2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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This was first published on 16/11/2015 has since and been updated.