AVOCADO FETA QUINOA SALAD

Avocado Feta Quinoa Salad is tossed in a super easy homemade feta vinaigrette and sprinkled with fresh parsley. This easy mediterranean quinoa salad is healthy, refreshing, and perfect for a hot Summer day!

Ingredients

1 cup dry quinoa
1.5 cups water or veggie broth
3/4 cup chopped plum or cherry tomatoes
1 avocado peeled + chopped
2-3 TBSP fresh chopped parsley
1 oz crumbled feta cheese for topping (optional)

FETA VINAIGRETTE DRESSING

1/2 cup feta cheese
1 clove of garlic minced into a paste
1 TBSP olive oil (to cook with the garlic above)
1/4 cup olive oil or avocado oil
2 TBSP red wine vinegar or champagne vinegar
1 TBSP lemon juice
1 TBSP parsley or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper to taste
a pinch of salt

Instructions

First rinse + drain your quinoa using a mesh strainer/sieve.
Bring a medium-small saucepan to medium heat and lightly toast the quinoa to remove any excess water. Stir as it toasts for just a few minutes. This step is optional but really adds to the fluff factor of the quinoa! I rarely skip this step because I love the texture and flavor it yields.
Next add 1 and 1/2 cups water [or broth!] and bring pot to a boil.
Once it’s boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer, covered with the lid slightly ajar, for 12-13 minutes.
While the quinoa cooks, chop your veggies and set aside.
Next microwave 1 small-medium clove of garlic in 1 TBSP olive oil and add to a food processor or blender with the rest of your dressing ingredients. Blend until smooth and emulsified, then season and adjust to taste.
No blender/processor? No problem! You can whisk the ingredients together. For the feta in this case, you may want to smash it into a paste before whisking it into your dressing.
Once your quinoa is done, season with a teeny bit of salt and pepper, fluff gently with a fork, and set aside to cool.
Combine cooled quinoa with tomato and parsley.
Stir in 1/4 cup of your dressing and then gently fold in the chopped avocado.
Garnish with all the tomato/parsley/feta mixture you’d like!
Add any additional dressing as desired.
Enjoy!