This Quinoa with Zucchini and Tomatoes is the perfect way to celebrate seasonal summer produce. Sauteing the zucchini first gives it a nice smoky flavor. Make it on Sunday and eat healthy all week! {gluten free}
How's your summer going guys? Have you taken the time to sit quietly on the beach and watch the waves roll in? Have you enjoyed those long nights of daylight and late sunsets?
You still have time to do everything on your bucket list, so get on it. Make memories that you can look back on during those long winter months.
For me, I have a cooking bucket list. On my list was finding these gorgeous Sun Gold Tomatoes at Barlett's Farm in Nantucket. They are my favorite tomatoes ever and they don't hang around for long. So sweet and delicious!
Other summer bucket list ideas: grilled peaches, drinks with fresh mint, fresh corn salads, grilled plum salads and peach salsa. I have so much left to do!
I make a lot of quinoa salads around here but this is one of my favorites because it screams summer. Grilling the zucchini gives it some smokey flavor and goodness on the outside. The feta adds a lot of salt and flavor to the quinoa which can otherwise be kind of bland.
I put the simplest of dressings on here with olive oil and fresh lemon. You can get away with that when you have fresh herbs like parsley and dill. This Quinoa with Zucchini and Tomatoes is super healthy, low fat and high protein.
If you love quinoa like me and want more, try these...
- Quinoa Salad with Spinach and Berries
- California Quinoa Salad (Whole Foods Copycat)
- Eat Your Greens Quinoa Salad
- Quinoa Breakfast Bowl with Egg, Tomatoes, and Avocado
Quinoa with Zucchini and Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked quinoa I used my rice cooker
- 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 medium zucchini quartered and diced
- 1 cup feta cheese
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- ¼ cup parsley chopped
- ¼ cup dill chopped
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lemon juiced
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon oil and garlic. Saute for a minute.
- Add diced zucchini and cook for about 3-5 minutes until you get a bit of browning. Set aside
- In a medium bowl add cooked quinoa, chopped tomatoes, zucchini, feta, and herbs.
- Toss gently.
- Add juice and zest of one lemon, 2 tablespoon of olive oil and salt and pepper to taste.
- Toss well. Add more oil and lemon as necessary for more flavor.
Nutrition
If you make this salad be sure to take a photo and tag me at #seasonal_craving. I'd love to see what you make!
Mary Ann @ thebeachhousekitchen says
I love, love, love quinoa salads Melina! And add two of my favorite summer veggies and I'm lovin' it even more! Can't wait to try!
Melina @ Seasonal Craving says
Thanks Mary Ann!
Cathy says
love this and those tomatoes look gorgeous. i can see why they're on your bucket list. i have been lucky enough to sit and watch the waves roll in this summer and you're right...i'm banking all these moments for those long cold winter nights!!
Melina @ Seasonal Craving says
Ok, we'll remind each other of this when we are freezing our bums off!
Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners says
Your nearby farm looks fabulous, Melina! I'm with you - there are so many dishes I still want to make and I'm running out of time! I need another 3 months at least, lol.
This dish looks like it's busting out with flavors and I'm definitely making it for one of our get togethers. Beautiful shots, too!
Melina @ Seasonal Craving says
Thanks Robyn!
The Gourmet Gourmand says
What a beautiful looking salad! I think you've found all my favorite flavors and piled it into one dish. Beautiful!
Melina @ Seasonal Craving says
So glad!
Annemarie @ justalittlebitofbacon says
What beautiful tomatoes! Our neighbors dropped off some large, yellow tomatoes yesterday and I was wondering what to do with them. This salad would be perfect. And I agree about making summer memories (it's not over yet!), so tomorrow is a Cape day for us. One of these days we need to hop on over to Nantucket.
Melina Malone says
You are lucky to have such nice neighbors Annemarie. Enjoy the cape! It's so beautiful there.
Megan - The Emotional Baker says
This salad looks so perfect for summer! I have a baking bucket list that's ever changing with the seasons. Although I'm transitioning to fall ideas, I'd still like to squeeze in some zucchini bread. While I'm on a zuc craze, I'll have to try this quinoa dish - yum!
Melina @ Seasonal Craving says
Zucchini bread sounds great right about now!
Rachel @ Bakerita says
I'm cherishing every last moment of summer this year! I'm definitely going to be missing summer produce the most...especially beautiful tomatoes and zucchini like you have here. This dish looks so delicious!
Melina Malone says
Thanks, Rachel!