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Home > Blog

07.3.16 Cucumbers

Cucumber Quinoa Salad with Feta

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Cucumber Quinoa Salad with Feta- @naturallyella

When cucumbers are in season, it takes everything in my power to not combine them with tomatoes for every salad (like this sumac chickpea salad). Then I remember that I can make a refreshing, beautiful salad without the pop of red. I originally threw this cucumber quinoa salad together with ingredients I happen to have in my mother's kitchen, while all my belongings were packed up on a truck headed to California. It's a rough approximation that has changed over the years, primarily swapping balsamic for a lighter, crisper champagne vinegar. If you're looking to make this salad ahead of time, wait to combine the cucumbers with the spinach until right before serving.

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Cucumber Quinoa Salad with Feta

Cucumber-Feta Quinoa Salad
Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

An easy and fresh summer quinoa salad using cucumbers, spinach, and a tangy dressing. 

  • Author: Erin Alderson
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 2 servings 1x
  • Category: Salad

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 medium cucumber (½" diced)
  • 4 scallions (minced)
  • 1 cup cooked quinoa
  • 2 ounces feta
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon champagne vinegar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups chopped baby spinach

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, combine the diced cucumber, scallion, quinoa, and feta.
  2. In a jar with a lid, shake together olive oil, vinegar, and salt. Pour over quinoa, mix well, and let sit until ready to serve.
  3. Toss with spinach just before serving.

Notes

Tips & Tricks: If the cucumber has a tough skin, be sure to peel it before using. Also, this recipe is best with fresh, crisp cucumbers as they really provide the texture. 

Stock up: get the pantry ingredients you will need: quinoa, cucumbers, parsley

Nutrition: see the information.

 

Nutrition

  • Calories: 341
  • Sugar: 4.8
  • Sodium: 588
  • Fat: 21.6
  • Carbohydrates: 28.5
  • Fiber: 4.6
  • Protein: 10.3
  • Cholesterol: 25.2

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @naturallyella on Instagram and hashtag it #naturallyella

Step by Step

Cucumber Quinoa Salad

variations

I originally made this salad without the addition of the spinach but the salad felt a little lacking. You could easily add a variety of summer produce to this salad or a handful of herbs. Make the quinoa ahead of time for quick assembly.

Grains: I primarily used quinoa for it's quick cooking but I also love this salad with a chewier sorghum or the flavor of buckwheat. If you're not looking to have this salad be gluten-free, use freekeh or bulgur.

Greens: Spinach isn't always in season with cucumbers, so try using a heartier green like kale or even chard.

Vegan: Swap out the feta for tofu- you can make a mock feta.

Explore Cucumbers

cucumbers

July is my favorite time to let cucumbers really shine. Most of the time I usually toss them in my salads as a secondary thought but as evident with this cucumber quinoa salad, they can be the star. There's usually a few different varieties at the market. I love the slightly sweet Persian cucumbers.

Spiced Chickpea Cucumber Salad
Cucumber Satay Crunch
Bread and Butter Pickles

Cucumber Quinoa Salad with Spinach and Feta | @naturallyella

Originally Posted on May 6th, 2013. Last updated on July 3rd, 2016.

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  1. Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says

    May 06, 2013 at 10:10 am

    Hey Erin, lovely post, beautiful recipe. Best of luck and good wishes on you travels!

    Reply
    • elalderson says

      May 06, 2013 at 3:10 pm

      Thank you, Pamela!

      Reply
  2. Elizabeth Stark says

    May 06, 2013 at 10:28 am

    Thinking of you as you head out. I know there must be so many mixed emotions, but I am so looking forward to seeing whatever is next for you (I'm convinced there will be lots of BIG things)!

    Reply
    • elalderson says

      May 06, 2013 at 3:11 pm

      Thank you for such kind words, Elizabeth! I hope your move went well and you are beginning to feel a bit more settled!

      Reply
  3. Liz DellaCroce says

    May 06, 2013 at 10:30 am

    Best wishes for a great move!! Gorgeous recipe and photos as always.

    Reply
  4. Alex Caspero MA,RD says

    May 06, 2013 at 11:08 am

    As always, gorgeous post! I love coming to your blog as I get inspired by your clean, colorful photos. Congrats on moving, where in CA are you locating to? I'm in Sacramento and after moving to CA from the East Coast 6 years ago I can now say that it was by far the best decision I ever made. Always hard to leave family behind, but exciting for new paths ahead!

    Reply
    • elalderson says

      May 06, 2013 at 3:11 pm

      I have a feeling I will feel the same way 🙂 I'm actually moving to Sacramento- my fiance took a job there and I'm following him out!

      Reply
  5. Sarah | Sarah The Architect says

    May 06, 2013 at 12:53 pm

    Everything looks delicious!! What a sweet gesture... best of luck with the move!

    Reply
    • elalderson says

      May 06, 2013 at 3:11 pm

      Thank you, Sarah!

      Reply
  6. Emily says

    May 06, 2013 at 8:09 pm

    Good luck Erin!!! Moves are always a combination of stressful, frightening, sad, and so exciting. I just know that it's going to be great, and you'll have amazing adventures!

    Reply
  7. HalfBakedHarvest says

    May 06, 2013 at 10:28 pm

    Everything look SO good!! Goog luck with the move. I am excited to hear all about ti!

    Reply
  8. Jess says

    May 07, 2013 at 2:07 am

    Good luck with the move, Erin! THis looks like a fitting send-off.

    Reply
  9. Kathryn says

    May 07, 2013 at 5:57 am

    A perfect meal to celebrate the start of your new adventure : )

    Reply
  10. Fresh and Foodie says

    May 07, 2013 at 10:30 am

    What a special meal to commemorate such a special time. Good luck to you.

    Reply
  11. Tiffany D. says

    May 07, 2013 at 1:43 pm

    What a good way to say goodbye! California is waiting for you... time to make some good food for friends and 'family' here sometime soon 🙂

    Reply
  12. Cookie and Kate says

    May 10, 2013 at 2:13 pm

    Best of luck with the move, Erin! Looking forward to hearing about your California adventures.

    Reply
  13. Emily says

    July 07, 2016 at 6:01 pm

    I just made this last night and it was so good! Even better than I was expecting! And it even worked for lunch today 🙂 Thank you

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  14. Laureen Bonin says

    July 19, 2016 at 1:46 pm

    This salad is the bomb. Cucumbers are fine, really, but I don't go out of my way to seek them out. However, with a friend giving me free homegrowns from his garden, I was looking for ways to like them more--and this is it. My whole family LOVES this salad, and I've made it three days in a row now. Thanks for the recipe--it's a keeper.

    Reply
    • Laureen Bonin says

      July 19, 2016 at 1:48 pm

      I'd give it another star if there was one.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
  15. R.S. says

    June 08, 2017 at 4:30 am

    Could you please tell us what type of seeds you sprinkled the salad with?

    Reply
    • Erin Alderson says

      June 08, 2017 at 6:39 am

      I'm guessing you're looking at the photo- those seeds are actually the quinoa!

      Reply
  16. diane says

    May 03, 2018 at 5:06 pm

    Once made, how long does this keep in the fridge?

    Reply
    • Erin Alderson says

      May 04, 2018 at 5:24 am

      Not long- the spinach doesn't hold up. If you want to make it ahead of time, I suggest keeping the spinach separate until ready to serve.

      Reply

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I'm Erin and this is my space for all things vegetarian food inspired by California and my love of cooking.


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