Avocado and Greek Quinoa Salad with lemon dijon mustard dressing. Gluten free and dairy free options!
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Hi all! Can you believe it is the end of June already!? My summer is officially half over and I head back to school in two months. On the bright side, it is the fourth and final year of my university experience. I am looking forward to wrapping up my Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, but I am trying to not rush it. Everyone who is out of school tells me I will miss it.
So I am trying to embrace it and somehow enjoy it while it is here. - I spent some time with my grandma last week. My grandparents live in a beautiful home on a lake. So it is always a treat when I get to visit them.
My grandpa was in England for two weeks visiting family so I wanted to keep my grandma company. Oakley and I spent three beautiful days with her. We did lots of cooking. My favourite was this salad.
I could not get enough of this Avocado and Greek Quinoa salad! It is so fresh, light and perfect for a hot summer day. And you only need a little bowl to satisfy your hunger.
I have seen many different variations of this Avocado and Greek Quinoa salad but this recipe is the one my grandma made. Here is the original ingredients:
Ingredients in this Avocado and Greek Quinoa Salad:
- quinoa
- cucumber
- tomato
- avocado
- red pepper
- feta cheese (use uncooked tofu for diary free)
- parsley
We changed it slightly because of what we had available to us in the house. We used fresh parsley that my grandma grows in pots on the deck. I love fresh herbs. I use to not use herbs at all and considered salt and pepper to be my ultimate flavour enhancers.
I made a switch from salt to organic spices and herbs. BEST. DECISION. EVER. Not only do you loose water weight but you come to enjoy the natural flavours of food rather then just salt-ifying them.
What I found really made this salad is the avocado. It turns the entire dish into a creamy delight (minus the cream and fat - YIPPIE). Everyone tends to stay away from avocados because of the high calorie and fat content. The fat in avocados is a healthy fat therefore your body uses it differently. Avocados are considered a superfood because of the many nutritious benefits. They also play a huge role in weight management. They are whole, unprocessed and naturally healthy therefore the calorie content should not be an issue! Lets count goodness not calories 🙂
Make sure to email me if you have any questions or just comment below. Hope you enjoy this avocado and greek quinoa salad!!
If you liked this recipe make sure you check out my Cranberry and Walnut Spinach Salad with Honey Ginger Dressing recipe! It is another salad that I absolutely love to make especially in the summer time!
Avocado and Greek Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
Quinoa
- ⅔ cup quinoa
- 1 ⅓ cup water
Salad
- ½ cup chopped cucumber
- ½ cup chopped tomato (you can use cherry tomatoes if you do not have regular)
- 1 Avocado peeled and chopped
- ½ cup red pepper
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese use uncooked tofu for dairy free version
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
Lemon Dijon Mustard Dressing
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1.5 tablespoon dijon mustard
Instructions
- Cook quinoa according to directions on packaging (using water).
- Prepare vegetables and feta/tofu.
- Transfer quinoa to serving bowl, stir in vegetables and feta/tofu.
- Prepare dressing by whisking ingredients in small bowl until blended. Pour over salad and stir to disperse dressing.
Avocado and Greek Quinoa Salad with lemon dijon mustard dressing. Gluten free and dairy free options!
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