Xanthan Gum Free Greek Quinoa Salad
Bright, herby, and packed with Mediterranean flavor, this quinoa salad is the kind of dish that earns a permanent spot in your weeknight rotation. The dressing comes together with just a whisk — olive oil, fresh lemon juice, garlic, oregano, and a touch of turmeric — no thickeners or stabilizers needed to make it cling beautifully to every ingredient. That's actually great news if you're navigating a sensitivity to xanthan gum, since so many bottled dressings and packaged salad kits sneak it in as a texture agent. Here, everything is made from scratch with whole, straightforward ingredients, so you know exactly what's going into the bowl. Crisp cucumber, juicy cherry tomatoes, briny Kalamata olives, and a generous handful of fresh parsley and mint make each bite feel fresh and satisfying. Letting the quinoa cool before tossing is a small but important step — it keeps the vegetables crisp and helps the dressing coat rather than absorb. Finish it with crumbled feta if you like, and you've got a salad that works as a light lunch, a make-ahead meal, or a crowd-pleasing side.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the quinoa
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
- 2 cups water
- ¼ tsp salt
For the salad
- 1 english cucumber, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- ⅓ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup fresh mint, roughly chopped
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (about 1 large lemon)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- 1 clove garlic, finely minced
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp salt
For serving
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the rinsed quinoa, water, and 1/4 tsp salt in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the water is fully absorbed and the quinoa tails have unfurled, about 12–14 minutes.
- 2
Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the quinoa steam, covered, for 5 minutes. Uncover, fluff with a fork, and spread onto a large plate or sheet pan to cool for at least 10 minutes — the quinoa should feel just barely warm, not hot, before it goes into the salad.
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