As a great person once said: to be worth eating, salads need to have plenty of yummy bits (...yes, it was me). They can have heaps of lettuce, and even other raw veg like cucumber or tomatoes - but unless there’s something a bit special in there too, I’m not going to be interested. I love vegetables, but cold, raw vegetables don't particularly excite me. I need me some yummy bits.
And this salad is 100% yummy bits.
Okay, I’m playing a bit fast and loose with the term ‘salad’ here - it’s more of a quinoa dish than a salad, but never mind. Top it with marinated artichoke hearts (a.k.a. my favourite thing that come in a jar, apart from maybe black olives, which are equal favourites), crumbled feta cheese, and fresh rocket, and you’ve got yourself a salad.
I made a really simple dressing to pour over the top - and when I say simple, I mean the two ingredients kind of simple. A bit of lemon juice, and a bit of the oil from the marinated artichokes. Plus a bit of salt and pepper, if you’re feeling fancy. Just whisk them together (or put them in a teeny tiny jar like I did, and give them a good shake), and your dressing is done.
I love how simple this quinoa salad is to make - I even used a sachet of pre-cooked quinoa, but only because I had some in the cupboard that needed using up. Feel free to cook your quinoa from scratch! Then you just mix everything together (or lay it all out neatly, like I did for a whole three seconds before digging in), and this quinoa salad makes a delicious lunch, or a side dish to serve alongside something tasty.
By the way, you can serve this salad warm or cold - either let your quinoa cool down after cooking (e.g. for a packed lunch!), or serve it up right away while there's still some heat in it.
Artichoke and feta quinoa salad
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Print Pin CommentIngredients
- 250 g cooked quinoa - or 100g uncooked ~2 cups, I used a mixture of red and white
- Juice of ½ a lemon
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil or use the oil from the marinated artichokes
- Salt
- Black pepper
- 2 pieces marinated artichoke hearts if you’re using artichoke heart quarters, you’ll need 8
- 50 g feta cheese ~½ cup
- Small handful rocket arugula
Instructions
- If using uncooked quinoa, simmer it in a pan of water until tender, then drain. Either set it aside to cool, or continue using the warm quinoa.
- In a mug or jar, combine the lemon juice and olive oil, along with a little salt and pepper. Mix well to emulsify.
- Roughly chop the artichoke hearts and feta cheese, and assemble the salad with the quinoa and rocket. Drizzle over the dressing just before serving.
Nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on your exact ingredients. Please calculate your own nutritional values if you require accuracy for health reasons.
Love artichokes? Try my vegan veggie pasta:
Bintu says
I don't use artichokes enough (even thought I really love them). This looks so lush
Claire @foodiequine says
I really like the sound of this but I don't *think* I like Artichokes. Its one of those things I never have because I don't like them, or at least I don't think that I like them! Perhaps I need to give them a second chance?
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
Haha I absolutely LOVE them - please give them another chance!! :D
Polly says
oh! this sounds amazingingly delicious!!"
Kate @ Veggie Desserts says
This definitely looks 100% yummy bits. I loooooove artichokes.
Cherished By Me says
Mmmm this looks delicious, I love artichokes and don't have them nearly often enough...you've reminded me I must buy some.
[email protected] says
I can easily eat a whole jar of artichokes by myself, they taste so amazing and you have paired them well here in your salad which which looks so good!
Marika Rajah says
This looks really tasty! And I love the way you can have it either hot or cold. Also, although I'm sure you know, you can get artichokes in jars for a pound from Quality Save/Home Bargains and Aldi.
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
Ooh £1 is great! I don't think we have a Home Bargains near me but there's an Aldi just up my road, I'll check it out :) thanks!
Rust says
Wow, this sounds wonderful! The combination of flavors is great!
Sarah, Maison Cupcake says
I love jarred artichokes. I don't think I could be bothered preparing them fresh (having failed miserably in the past). Great combo!
Kavey says
Always good to keep "yummy bits" on hand to pull together delicious dishes like this. For me, I think it would couscous rather than quinoa, maybe those cheese-filled pepperdews rather than artichokes and baby spinach, though I do like rocket too! :-D
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
Haha no harm in mixing things up a bit!
Eileen says
Yay, yummy bits! I totally approve. What a great excuse to eat half a jar of artichoke hearts (not that I actually NEED an excuse, but hey).