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Don’t remove carbs from your diet. Find better options like this quinoa-based dish to fuel your body.
The blandness in your diet can usually be blamed on one of three things: a lack of time, creativity, or variety.
An easy way to solve all three issues: a good side dish, which can be added to almost any meal or enjoyed as a snack. Enter the mediterranean quinoa salad.
Often mistaken as a grain, quinoa—pronounced keen-wah—is actually a seed. A complete protein and full of minerals, quinoa’s high-quality nutritional profile is undeniable. The taste, on the other hand, can be pretty bland.
Sure, eating basic nutrient-dense foods can help you with weight loss, but why suffer? This quick and easy recipe, created by Liv Langdon, Born Fitness meal prep specialist and founder of Liv Lang & Prosper, can be made in less than 15 minutes.
If you’re a vegetarian, this is a go-to balanced dish with protein-packed quinoa and almonds. For the rest of us, add a grilled chicken breast or fish on top and lunch is ready to go.
Ingredients
- 2c cooked quinoa*
- ¼ c sundried tomatoes, sliced
- ½ c artichoke heart quarters, in water
- 1/3 c almond slivers, lightly toasted
- 2 tsp garlic, minced
- ½ tbsp olive oil
- ½ tbsp. grassfed butter, unsalted
- 2 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
- 1/2 lemon, freshly squeezed
- ¼ tsp Himalayan sea salt
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 oz. crumbled feta cheese, just for taste (optional)
*Quinoa can be cooked in advanced using water (to keep it vegetarian friendly) or use a low-sodium chicken broth for added flavor.
Directions
- In a large sauté pan on medium heat, add the olive oil and garlic.
- When the garlic is slightly toasted, add in the rest of the ingredients except the feta cheese. Stir until well combined.
- Cook for five to 10 minutes to let the flavors develop. Stir occasionally.
- Top with crumbled feta cheese, if desired.
- Serve up ¼ of the recipe for a light, vegetarian-friendly meal or add a grilled chicken breast to bump up the protein.
- Makes four servings.
Nutritional Information & Macros
Dietary Information: Gluten free, Vegetarian
**If you want dairy-free, omit the feta cheese.
Macros per serving (¼ of the recipe)
- 222 calories
- 10g fat
- 25g carbs
- 7.5g protein
Total breakdown for 4 servings
Quinoa: 444 calories, 8g fat, 80g carbs, 16g protein
Almond slivers: 170 calories, 14g fat, 6g carbs, 6g protein
Olive oil: 60 calories, 7g fat, 0g carbs, 0g protein
Butter: 50 calories, 5.5g fat, 0g carbs, 0g protein
Sundried tomatoes: 34 calories, 0.68 g fat, 7.4g carbs, 2g protein
Artichoke hearts: 35 calories, 0g fat, 6g carbs, 2g protein
Feta cheese: 74 calories, 6g fat, 1.2g carbs, 4g protein
Total: 889 calories, 41g fat, 100g carbs, 30g protein