Quinoa Feta Salad – Hot Weather Cooking
It has been really hot here in Philly recently. I try not to use air conditioning but when I do, I only use it in one room and we spend all of our time in that one room. I do this because I have window units rather than central air, trying to reduce energy usage and the cost.
Because of this, my kitchen is unbearable. There is a box fan in the window but the part of the house that isn’t cooled is about 90 degrees. I don’t want to cook and try to come up with different salads and cold food. Many salads, however, require potatoes, pasta and other ingredients that need to be cooked. I am a morning person so I usually cook these items first thing in the morning before 7am.
My daughter and I love Quinoa but I had never tried eating it cold in a salad before. Quinoa is still not widely available through this country. I haven’t seen it at the two bigger supermarkets in my neighborhood but a small little market down the street sells it because we asked them to stock it and they are awesome that way – they will get almost any product that customers ask for. And my food co-op sells it. I suppose Whole Foods probably does too but I don’t shop there – I think it’s overpriced and the location isn’t very convenient. Anyway, this same recipe would also work work with couscous.
This is another recipe where I add whatever veggies I have on hand and what I think will taste good.
- Cooked quinoa – servings based on size of salad. Cool.
- Feta Cheese – this is important because I didn’t use spices or a dressing. The feta I used can from a local farm and was delicious.
- Red Onion
- Peas
- Orange Bell Pepper
- Cucumbers
- Tomato
This was delicious and my daughter loved it too. I’ve already made it twice. The only issue I have is that Quinoa comes from so far away.
Have you ever had Quinoa? Do you like it?
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July 14, 2010 at 1:15 am
Yay. Thanks for posting this recipe, Kim. I’m going to make it. It sounds real good; especially the mixture of feta cheese and onion.
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July 15, 2010 at 6:54 am
Hi Davina – Yep – the feta and onion add a lot of flavor too it. Let me know if you like it.
July 14, 2010 at 9:08 am
This looks so yum! I make a variation of this salad with lentils and will toss with a little olive oil and fresh lemon juice. Also have you tried red quinoa?
July 15, 2010 at 6:55 am
Hi Laura – I haven’t tried the red kind but they do have it at my food co-op. Maybe I’ll try that next time.
I’ve never made a lentil salad either – another idea!
July 14, 2010 at 12:57 pm
That looks amazing! It has been so hot here I have not felt like cooking and big meals just do not taste good anyway.
July 14, 2010 at 4:31 pm
I’ve never tried Quinoa. This look delicious!
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July 15, 2010 at 6:55 am
Hi Vered – You should try it – it’s really yummy.
July 14, 2010 at 4:47 pm
Came across your site looking for WP stuff, and now I’ll be sending this along to my wife – I’m sure she has made something similar to this before. Quinoa is awesome – plus it’s a grain that has protein, so it’s even better.
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July 15, 2010 at 7:03 am
Hi – I love Quinoa. My only problem is that is comes from so far away and I’m trying to eat locally. I don’t think it’s being grown in PA. :-)
July 15, 2010 at 12:22 am
I made quinoa salad when I was trying elimination diet for my kids eczema. I was trying to avoid wheat and quinoa sounded like a good substitution. My family hated it but I LOVED it.
The last one I made was with cut up avocados, cilantro, tomatoes, celery, and scallions.
I usually cook extra, store in a glass container and refrigerate until needed for salads.
July 15, 2010 at 7:03 am
Hi Karen – Bummer that they didn’t like it but that means more for you. My kid has always loved rice and now she likes quinoa more – she wants it all the time.
July 15, 2010 at 8:25 am
I think Quinoa makes a delightful and quick-cooking alternative to rice.
You can try for Quinoa soup with onions, tomato and carrot.
It’s yummy & deleicious.!
July 15, 2010 at 9:47 am
Hi Kathy – I’d never thought of using it in a soup – I definitely try that in the fall. I like it so much better than rice.
July 15, 2010 at 8:49 am
EEEK! I love quinoa. I use it in just about everything.
Here is a link to one of my fave recipes that I created.
http://allrecipes.com/PersonalRecipe/62386819/Quinoa-and-Lentil-Salad/Detail.aspx
thanks for sharing!
z
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July 15, 2010 at 9:50 am
Hi Zoe – Thanks for the recipe!
July 15, 2010 at 9:33 am
Looks great! Although I have had quinoa, I haven’t cooked with it. You’ve inspired me to try. As an aside, Publix just started carrying it, so there is hope. =)
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July 15, 2010 at 9:51 am
Hi Christine – Awesome! I’ve found something you haven’t made yet – see, you just needed some inspiration ;-)
How did your super spicy chili turn out?
July 27, 2010 at 4:22 am
wah quinoa fita That looks amazing! It has been so hot here I have not felt like cooking and big meals just do not taste good anyway.
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July 27, 2010 at 9:23 am
Hi Jitu – I cook the quinoa early in the morning before it gets too hot. Then I just throw in some veggies and cheese later on and I have a simple and healthy dinner. I love quinoa!
December 9, 2010 at 8:54 pm
I love this recipe, so simple and easy, nothing to measure when feta is your dressing.
Quinoa is turning up on the shelves of most of the grocery chains in my area. Market Basket (a New England chain) can’t seem to decide where to stock it. They have three different brands of quinoa seeds, stocked in three different aisles.
Tammi Kibler @ How Do You Cook Quinoa?´s last post ..Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad with Honey-Lemon Vinaigrette
December 10, 2010 at 7:28 am
Hi Tammi – One of the stores in my area is like that. They don’t know what to do with certain items like quinoa or tvp and they store them in multiple locations or keep moving them around.
February 24, 2011 at 1:41 am
Sounds interesting. I need to search my local supermarkets to see if I can find Quinoa here. This is the first time I hear of it.
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February 24, 2011 at 8:35 am
Hi Dan – I hope you can find it. People seem to either love it or hate it. My kid loves it – prefers it to rice.