Best 3 Mediterranean Cucumber And Yogurt Salad With Red Or Black Quinoa Recipes

**Mediterranean Cucumber and Yogurt Salad with Red or Black Quinoa: A Refreshing and Nutritious Dish**

Indulge in the vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean with this refreshing cucumber and yogurt salad, an exquisite blend of crisp cucumbers, creamy yogurt, tangy red wine vinegar, and fragrant herbs. This delightful salad is not only a culinary delight but also a nutritional powerhouse, offering a symphony of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Accompanied by the nutty flavor of red or black quinoa, this salad transforms into a satisfying and wholesome meal, perfect for warm summer days or as a light and healthy lunch. Discover the culinary journey that awaits as we delve into the detailed recipes for this delectable salad and its versatile variations.

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

MEDITERRANEAN CUCUMBER AND YOGURT SALAD WITH RED OR BLACK QUINOA

Mediterranean Cucumber and Yogurt Salad With Red or Black Quinoa image

The idea of embellishing a yogurt soup or salad with quinoa comes from Deborah Madison, who uses black quinoa in a brilliant recipe for a soup in her book "Vegetable Literacy." I used red quinoa to add texture, color and substance to this typical Mediterranean combination - finely diced cucumber, garlic, and thick plain yogurt. Use mint or dill, or a combination, and make sure to dice the cucumber very small.

Provided by Martha Rose Shulman

Categories dinner, lunch, salads and dressings, appetizer, main course, side dish

Time 30m

Yield Serves 4

Number Of Ingredients 7

Ingredients

2 to 2 1/2 cups finely diced cucumber (use a seedless variety such as a long hothouse cucumber, a Japanese cucumber or Persian cucumbers)
Salt
1 1/2 to 2 cups plain Greek yogurt or drained yogurt (to taste)
1 to 2 garlic cloves (to taste), cut in half, green shoots removed, and mashed to a paste in a mortar and pestle with a pinch of salt
1 to 2 tablespoons (to taste) chopped fresh dill or mint
Freshly ground pepper
1 cup cooked red or black quinoa

Steps:

Toss cucumber with a generous amount of salt and leave in a colander in the sink to sweat for 15 minutes. Drain on paper towels (rinse first if the cucumber tastes very salty).
Spoon yogurt into a salad bowl and mix with garlic. Stir in cucumber. Add freshly ground pepper (I like a generous amount), taste and adjust salt. Sprinkle dill or mint on top.
Spoon quinoa over salad and serve, or divide salad among 4 bowls or plates and top each serving with 1/4 cup quinoa.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 279, UnsaturatedFat 2 grams, Carbohydrate 34 grams, Fat 9 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 16 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Sodium 535 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams

CREAMY MEDITERRANEAN CUCUMBER SALAD

Creamy Mediterranean Cucumber Salad image

Lively and refreshing, this cucumber salad has beautiful, fresh herbs and lots of crunch. Try it this summer when your garden is bursting with cucumbers, and your lettuce has said goodbye. You can toss it with some romaine, if you have some, or just simply enjoy the simplicity.

Provided by Bibi

Categories Salad Vegetable Salad Recipes Cucumber Salad Recipes

Time 15m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 lemon, juiced and zested
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
4 cups chopped English cucumber
20 cherry tomatoes
¼ red onion, thinly sliced, or to taste

Steps:

Combine Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, dill, mint, and parsley in the bowl of a small food processor or blender. Process until herbs are finely minced and dressing is well blended. Season with salt and pepper. Set dressing aside.
Combine cucumber, tomatoes, and red onions in a large bowl. Lightly sprinkle vegetables with a pinch of salt. Toss vegetables with the dressing and garnish with lemon zest.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 57.9 calories, Carbohydrate 6.4 g, Cholesterol 0.7 mg, Fat 4 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 1.2 g, SaturatedFat 0.7 g, Sodium 48.3 mg, Sugar 1.4 g

MEDITERRANEAN CUCUMBER AND YOGURT SALAD WITH RED OR BLACK QUINOA

MEDITERRANEAN CUCUMBER AND YOGURT SALAD WITH RED OR BLACK QUINOA image

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 7

Ingredients

2to 2 1/2 cups finely diced cucumber (use a seedless variety such as a long hothouse cucumber, a Japanese cucumber or Persian cucumbers)
Salt
1½to 2 cups plain Greek yogurt or drained yogurt (to taste)
2to 2 garlic cloves (to taste), cut in half, green shoots removed, and mashed to a paste in a mortar and pestle with a pinch of salt
2to 2 tablespoons (to taste) chopped fresh dill or mint
Freshly ground pepper
1cup cooked red or black quinoa

Steps:

1Toss cucumber with a generous amount of salt and leave in a colander in the sink to sweat for 15 minutes. Drain on paper towels (rinse first if the cucumber tastes very salty). 2Spoon yogurt into a salad bowl and mix with garlic. Stir in cucumber. Add freshly ground pepper (I like a generous amount), taste and adjust salt. Sprinkle dill or mint on top. 3Spoon quinoa over salad and serve, or divide salad among 4 bowls or plates and top each serving with 1/4 cup quinoa.

Tips:

For the best flavor, use ripe, juicy cucumbers. English or Persian cucumbers are ideal.
If you don't have red or black quinoa, you can use regular quinoa. Just cook it according to the package directions.
To save time, you can use store-bought tzatziki sauce. However, making your own is easy and only takes a few minutes.
If you like your salad spicy, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
For a vegan version of this salad, use plant-based yogurt instead of Greek yogurt.

Conclusion:

This refreshing and flavorful salad is perfect for a light lunch or dinner. It's also a great way to use up leftover quinoa. The combination of crisp cucumbers, creamy yogurt, and tangy quinoa is sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you're looking for a healthy and delicious salad, give this Mediterranean cucumber and yogurt salad a try. You won't be disappointed!