Quinoa Asparagus Feta Salad: A Refreshing & Healthy Recipe

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups water
• 0.75 cup quinoa
• 0.25 teaspoon salt
• 1 bunch fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
• 4 ounces crumbled feta cheese
• 0.33 cup toasted slivered almonds
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced, or to taste
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1 lemon, zested
• 0.25 cup lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1.5 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Bring water to a boil in a saucepan, then add quinoa and salt. Stir, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer until quinoa is tender, about 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat, let rest for 5 minutes, then transfer to a bowl to cool.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add asparagus and cook uncovered until tender-crisp, 2-3 minutes. Drain and immediately immerse in ice water for several minutes to halt the cooking process. Drain again.
3. Combine asparagus, feta cheese, almonds, green onions, parsley, thyme, and lemon zest with the cooled quinoa.
4. In a bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, honey, garlic, Dijon mustard, and black pepper until the dressing is smooth. Pour over the quinoa mixture and gently stir to combine.

Nutrition

• Calories: 238 kcal
• Fat Content: 13 g
• Fiber Content: 4 g
• Sugar Content: 6 g
• Sodium Content: 346 mg
• Protein Content: 9 g
• Cholesterol Content: 17 mg
• Carbohydrate Content: 23 g
• Saturated Fat Content: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat Content: 0 g