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–+ servings
Grilled Vegetable and Quinoa Salad – vegetarian recipe
Stav Kogan

Grilled Vegetable and Quinoa Salad

A vibrant, hearty salad with smoky, charred bell peppers and zucchini, peppery arugula, creamy goat cheese, protein-packed quinoa, and a zesty sun-dried tomato vinaigrette. A celebration of summer in every single bite!
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 serving
Calories: 305

Ingredients
  

  • 2 large red bell peppers
  • 2 medium -large zucchini, green or gold, sliced lengthwise into 8 planks each
  • 4 tablespoons (60 ml / 2 fl oz) olive oil, divided
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml / 1 fl oz) coarsely chopped fresh basil, plus small leaves for garnish
  • 2 teaspoons (10 ml / 0.3 fl oz) white balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml / 0.5 fl oz) finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml / 0.5 fl oz) chopped pitted Kalamata olives
  • 1 clove garlic, minced (about 1 teaspoon / 5 ml / 0.2 fl oz)
  • 1 cup (240 ml) cooked red quinoa
  • 2 cups (480 ml) baby arugula, plus extra for garnish
  • 3 ounces (85 g / 3 oz) crumbled fresh goat cheese
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • No grill? No problem! You can roast the vegetables under your oven's broiler. Place them on a baking sheet and broil for 5-7 minutes per side, watching carefully until charred and tender.
  • For easy meal prep, grill the vegetables and cook the quinoa up to 3 days in advance. Store them in separate airtight containers in the fridge. Assemble with the fresh arugula and dressing just before serving.
  • Not a fan of goat cheese? Crumbled feta, shaved Parmesan, or small mozzarella pearls would also be delicious substitutes.

Method
 

  1. Preheat your grill to high.
  2. Place the whole bell peppers directly on the grate, close the lid, and grill for 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally, until the skin is blistered and blackened all over.
  3. Transfer the peppers to a bowl, cover tightly, and let them steam for 20 minutes. 2.
  4. Once cool enough to handle, peel the skins off the peppers over a colander set in a bowl to catch their juices.
  5. Discard the stems and seeds, then slice the peppers into long, wide strips. 3.
  6. Reduce the grill heat to medium.
  7. Brush both sides of the zucchini planks with 2 tablespoons (30 ml / 1 fl oz) of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
  8. Grill for 5-8 minutes, flipping once, until tender and marked with grill lines. 4. To make the vinaigrette, whisk together the remaining 2 tablespoons (30 ml / 1 fl oz) of olive oil, the reserved bell pepper juices, chopped basil, white balsamic vinegar, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and minced garlic in a small bowl.
  9. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 5.
  10. In a separate bowl, toss the cooked quinoa with 1 tablespoon (15 ml / 0.5 fl oz) of the vinaigrette.
  11. In another larger bowl, toss the arugula with 1 tablespoon (15 ml / 0.5 fl oz) of the vinaigrette. 6. To assemble, divide the dressed arugula among four serving plates. Artfully arrange the grilled zucchini planks and bell pepper strips over the arugula.
  12. Sprinkle with the dressed quinoa and crumbled goat cheese.
  13. Drizzle with the remaining vinaigrette and garnish with fresh basil and arugula leaves before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 305kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 9gFat: 21g

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