Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad - This healthy Salad is hearty and is loaded with quinoa, cucumber, green peppers, tomatoes and feta and tossed in a healthy mediterranean dressing. 

I am really really loving the weather at the moment. We are getting to experience all the beauty of Autumn, but with the sun shining and beautiful blue skies. How amazing is that? I am making the most of it because as soon as winter comes along, I hibernate. My bones can't handle the frost. I leave my house when it is absolutely necessary but if I can make it into town, I take the opportunity to soak up all the Christmas joy and allow myself to get giddy over the lights and deco too.

The rest of the time, I hide under my covers and wait for the snow to melt. Last year and early this year, it just would not stop snowing. I'm sure you remember if you are based in the UK. We were sooooo done with Winter. I really hope that doesn't happen this year. The kids can just about handle a couple of days and then they are over it too because snow is fab when it is fresh and soft. Then when it turns to sludge it kinda loses its appeal. The middle stage is just not nice. Of course that is soon followed by the icy stage which brings with it sledging. The kids love that stage too. 

Sadly the icy stage and pretty much any snow means we do see all the rear wheel drivers stuck on awkward corners and hills. As much as I would love to help out, knowing me I will probably slide down to the bottom of the hill myself and need some sort of hoist to get me back up..so I give a sympathetic smile and leave it to my husband to help the stranded folks. 

Anyway..I am on a bit of a roll with quinoa salads at the moment. You may have noticed. I have just returned from Waitrose. I really love Waitrose. I know that people think of it as a 'posh' supermarket but..They have a loyalty card and REGULARLY send out vouchers for shopping. Spend £40 and get £8 off, or vouchers along those lines and you get a lot of vouchers too. Plus you get the awesome free food mag (worth £2) and a free brew (worth £2). I make a point of going quite often because it makes for a really pleasant shopping experience.

I don't ever feel rushed in Waitrose and I never get that mad anxious feeling I get in Aldi. You know when the cashier is throwing your stuff so fast at you that you can't quite keep up and they give you a look of absolute disdain whilst you act like a goal keeper at the edge of the till. I don't know about you, but it feels like shopping boot camp to me. The pressure to get the stuff in the bags or trolleys in the 20 second time frame is immense. In the panic, inevitably the shopping bags won't open either.

I try to remind myself not to compete with the cashier but I always fall into the trap of trying to prove that I can keep up. One day I will just go there and allow my shopping to drop to the floor. Including the eggs. (Everyone loves an omelette for breakfast/lunch/dinner). I would rather that then the mixture of disgusted looks from the staff combined with the disgruntled queue of shoppers looking at you like you are the biggest disappointment to the human race. 

I do love Aldi by the way. It is just the till situation that gets me all hot and bothered. It is ok in Winter but in Summer, the heat adds to the intensity. I also love going in at 8.30 am when it is just you, so the cashier is a bit more relaxed. 

By the way, I have picked up loads of stuff from Waitrose really really cheap. When they knock prices down, they really go for it - Courgettes 16p. Bagels 9p. That kind of thing. Their essential range is fab. On occasion, if the cafe is closing and they have left over desserts or cakes and you happen to be in the queue, you get to choose one piece of whatever you desire. Basically I love Waitrose. The aisles are really wide. It is quiet most of the time. (Until my kids enter anyway.. cue the side eyed stares from the customers expecting silence whilst they shop). The seasonal produce is amazing and it is often in the league of M&S. (I do think M&S is better though but in Leicester, Waitrose has more variety).

There is a massive M&S Food Hall in Harrogate and I just want to dive in there and raid the place but my husband just drove past it like he didn't hear me when I first saw it and got over excited. I haven't seen it since. I am trying to think of excuses to go to Harrogate soon.

As a food blogger, my fruit and veg has to look pretty and I often find that Waitrose and M&S do the best fruit and veg. Sometimes the market has the most beautiful produce too but I am often on foot in the market and carrying it home is a mission..also by the time I traipse home with it it looks like it has been bashed about. Which it has..against my legs and against the legs of other people. I don't do it on purpose of course. This is why people love me so much. I give them a good walloping with my bargain bags of fruit and veg from the market.

Gosh that was quite the diversion.

Back to the food. I love Mediterranean food and flavours. It is so healthy, hearty and delicious. Mediterranean food make me so happy.

I usually make this Mediterranean salad in the summer, but I sometimes make it in the winter too. It is light, refreshing, colourful and makes me feel like it is summer time. 

Before serving, I dress the salad with a simple dressing. This salad is great served as a main dish for lunch or dinner or you can serve it alongside any mediterranean main meal. It also keeps well in the fridge for 3-4 days. Do try it and let me know what you think!

If you enjoyed this recipe, you may also like:

10 Minute Greek Salad

Mediterranean Chicken Tray Bake with Potatoes, Olives, Pepper and Feta

Chicken Souvlaki and Tzatziki

One Tray Greek Chicken and Potatoes

Greek Chicken, Rice and Vegetable Soup