This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Minute®.
Experience the ultimate taste of summer with this quick and delicious Grilled Vegetable Quinoa Salad. Brimming with smoky, tender grilled vegetables and wholesome quinoa, this vibrant dish effortlessly transforms from a hearty side to a satisfying snack or a complete meal. It’s perfect for busy days when you crave fresh, flavorful, and nutritious food without the fuss.
As the days stretch longer and the sun shines brighter, summer truly hits its stride, bringing with it an undeniable energy and joy. For me, this season is pure bliss. There’s a special magic in visiting the local farmer’s market, overflowing with the freshest, most vibrant produce. I love the simple pleasure of leisurely days by the pool, soaking up the sun, and the enchantment of evenings spent gathered around a crackling fire, sharing laughter and stories, often accompanied by the sticky sweetness of s’mores.
This summer has been nothing short of magnificent. I cherish every moment spent with my children, letting the day unfold naturally, embracing spontaneous adventures. Sometimes, our fun extends well into the evening, leaving little time or energy to plan and prepare a complex dinner. It’s during these moments that having quick, nutritious, and incredibly flavorful options on hand becomes a game-changer.
Most evenings during the summer, our dinner ritual involves the grill. Not only does it impart an incredible smoky flavor to our food, but it also allows us to cook larger quantities, ensuring delicious leftovers for the next day’s lunches. Summer days are often packed with activities, making lunch a meal that needs to be swift, wholesome, and incredibly convenient. To streamline our busy schedules even further, I’ve found that preparing extra food the night before is an absolute lifesaver. This proactive approach means less stress and more time for what truly matters.
When my husband fires up the grill, it’s an open invitation to embrace the season’s bounty. We always make sure to throw a colorful array of fresh produce, freshly picked from the market, onto the grates. There’s truly nothing quite like the sweet, caramelized flavors of grilled vegetables, whether served alongside succulent kebabs, a perfectly seared steak, or tender grilled chicken. These same grilled vegetables, with their enhanced flavor and tender texture, then become incredible ingredients for next-day wraps, sandwiches, or, as you’ll discover, the star of an amazing salad.
One particularly warm afternoon, returning home from a refreshing swim at the pool, my stomach growled with anticipation. To my delight, I discovered a generous supply of beautifully grilled vegetables already waiting in the refrigerator. This abundance sparked an immediate idea, a culinary inspiration that would transform these simple leftovers into something extraordinary. This is where convenience meets creativity, especially when you have versatile ingredients on hand.
Around the same time, I had also stocked up on Minute® Ready to Serve White & Red Quinoa. As I surveyed the vibrant grilled vegetables, a lightbulb moment illuminated my kitchen. I knew instantly what my quick, satisfying lunch would be: a hearty, flavor-packed Grilled Vegetable Quinoa Salad. This realization highlighted the beauty of having pre-cooked, ready-to-use ingredients that allow for effortless meal assembly, even on the busiest of days.
The beauty of the new Minute Ready to Serve White & Red Quinoa lies in its incredible speed and simplicity. It cooks perfectly in the microwave in just 60 seconds, delivering fluffy, nutritious quinoa in mere moments. When combined with those delicious, smoky grilled vegetables and a tangy lemon Dijon vinaigrette I also had prepped in the fridge, this salad was an absolute revelation. It was a symphony of flavors and textures – savory, sweet, tangy, and earthy – proving that healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming.
Minute® Ready to Serve White & Red Quinoa is a game-changer for anyone seeking wholesome, quick meal solutions. It’s the first 100 percent quinoa Minute product, offering a delicious blend of both white and red quinoa. As a 100 percent whole grain, it’s naturally gluten-free and serves as an excellent source of fiber, supporting a healthy digestive system and promoting satiety. Beyond its nutritional profile, its unparalleled convenience makes it an indispensable pantry staple. Many varieties are also free from preservatives, ensuring you’re enjoying clean, simple ingredients. This commitment to quality and ease makes it a smart choice for any busy lifestyle, offering a nutritious base for countless dishes.
This Grilled Vegetable Quinoa Salad is more than just a recipe; it’s a versatile culinary creation that excels as a perfect salad, a delightful side dish, or a fulfilling main meal. Its charm lies in its harmonious balance of flavors and textures, making it quick to prepare, easy to love, and incredibly delicious. The grilling process caramelizes the vegetables, intensifying their natural sweetness, which pairs exquisitely with the salty notes of crumbled feta cheese. A burst of fresh mint adds a vibrant, cooling sweetness that elevates the entire salad, bringing all the components together in a refreshing symphony. It’s no wonder this vibrant dish has quickly become a beloved family favorite, eagerly anticipated at every meal.
Grilled Vegetable Quinoa Salad
Cook
Total
Author Megan | Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
Yield 6 servings
This quick, delicious, and hearty Grilled Vegetable Quinoa Salad is packed with flavorful grilled vegetables and nutritious quinoa, making it an ideal choice for a side dish, light snack, or a complete, satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Lemon Vinaigrette
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Kosher salt, to taste
Grilled Vegetable Quinoa Salad
- 2 packages Minute® Ready to Serve White & Red Quinoa
- 1 zucchini, cut in half lengthwise and sliced into thin planks
- 1 yellow squash, cut in half lengthwise and sliced into thin planks
- 1 red onion, quartered
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and quartered
- 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and quartered
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 tablespoons mint, finely chopped
Instructions
- To prepare the lemon vinaigrette, combine all ingredients – extra virgin olive oil, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, freshly ground black pepper, and kosher salt – in a mason jar. Seal tightly and shake vigorously until all ingredients are well combined. Set the dressing aside.
- Preheat your outdoor grill or a stovetop grill pan to a medium-high heat setting, ensuring it’s hot enough to achieve good char marks on the vegetables.
- Arrange all the prepped vegetables (zucchini, yellow squash, red onion, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper) onto a large cookie sheet. Drizzle them generously with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. Toss gently to ensure every piece is evenly coated.
- Working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the grill, place the seasoned vegetables onto the hot grill. Cook them until they are tender and beautifully charred, which typically takes about 10 minutes in total, flipping them halfway through to ensure even cooking and charring.
- Once grilled, remove the vegetables from the heat and allow them to cool slightly. Transfer them to a cutting board and dice them into uniform 1 to 1-1/2 inch pieces. Place all the diced grilled vegetables into a large mixing bowl.
- Prepare the quinoa: Place 2 cups of Minute® Ready to Serve White & Red Quinoa into the microwave and cook according to package directions (usually 60 seconds). Repeat this process with two more cups of quinoa until all four cups are cooked and fluffy.
- Add the cooked Minute Ready to Serve White & Red Quinoa to the bowl with the grilled vegetables. Pour the prepared lemon vinaigrette dressing generously over the quinoa and vegetables. Toss everything gently to ensure the dressing coats all ingredients evenly.
- Finally, sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese and finely chopped fresh mint over the top of the salad. Give it a few light tosses to incorporate these finishing touches throughout the salad before serving.
Courses Side Dish
I am genuinely thrilled with the convenience and quality of the new Minute® Ready to Serve White & Red Quinoa. It’s truly a fantastic solution for those moments when you need a light lunch, a quick snack, or a complete meal without sacrificing nutrition or flavor. The Minute Ready to Serve line offers a wonderful variety of wholesome flavors, ensuring that you’ll never grow bored of stirring up different, exciting combinations. From classic grains to flavorful blends, there’s always something new to try, keeping your meal rotation fresh and inspiring.
The next time you’re navigating the aisles of your local grocery store, make sure to add some Minute® Ready to Serve products to your cart. With them on hand, you’re always just 60 seconds away from crafting a quick, healthy, and satisfying meal. This simple addition to your pantry can dramatically simplify your meal prep and ensure you always have a nutritious option within reach, even on the busiest days.
And here’s a pro tip for your next barbecue: when you’re grilling, make it a habit to throw on some extra vegetables. Not only will you enjoy them with your dinner, but these delicious leftovers can be transformed into this incredible Grilled Vegetable Quinoa Salad for your next day’s lunch or even another dinner side. You’ll be incredibly thankful you did, ensuring you’re always prepared for a delightful #MinuteLunch at a moment’s notice, no matter how hectic life gets. Embrace the ease and flavor!
