Salad Of The Week: Cool Cucumber and Quinoa Salad Bowl
There was a time, just a short couple of weeks ago, that I thought I may never eat a veggie again. I think these things happen during your first trimester, I know, but I was starting to get concerned when days (a week?) would go by and I may have only munched on a single baby carrot – mostly out of guilt. I missed my veggies, but not really. I loved the crunchy kettle chips or cheese and crackers better.
I think I’m starting to make up for lost time. I’ve been a little obsessed with eating healthy salads again (as long as I don’t have to make them myself) and craving a few old friends. Some of these old friends came together randomly in a bowl one afternoon last week and became my new favorite lunch/snack to munch on. It feels good to know that it’s nutritious (and possibly cancels out the plenty of potato chips that were in it’s place not long ago) and it’s incredibly easy to make and keep in the fridge for a few days.
This is a no measurement type salad (aren’t most salads that way?) though I’ve added some suggestions to the recipe in parenthesis. Just add as much of each ingredient as you’d like and make it your own special bowl of goodness. Enjoy!
Cool Cucumber and Quinoa Salad Bowl
Ingredients:
- cooked quinoa, chilled (I had 2 cups cooked)
- seedless cucumber, quarter chopped (about 1/2 cucumber)
- crumbled feta (2 oz or so)
- diced avocado
- splash of apple cider vinegar
- drizzle extra virgin olive oil
- good pinch salt and pepper
Directions:
- Combine chilled quinoa with cucumber, feta, vinegar and oil in your serving bowl. Add avocado, salt and pepper and gently mix together.
- If not serving immediately, combine first batch of ingredients and add avocado right before serving/eating. Enjoy!
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Pregnancy cravings and aversions are nutso! Before you know it, it will all be switched up again. Great salad – I am super excited about fresh, affordable cucumbers coming into season here so I can put them in everything!
I never got that veggie/fruit aversion! Crazy how pregnancy impacts everyone differently (and even how each of your pregnancies can impact you differently!). Glad veggies are back in your life. What a delicious and protein packed salad!!
This looks so fresh and spring-y! Yum!
Girl, you KNOW you’re not alone. I have never met a pregnant woman who just loved healthy food in the first trimester! This salad sounds amazing though – perfectly crunchy!!!
This is my kind of salad for sure! I love the feta.
This sounds like such a refreshing salad, I love using cucumbers as much as possible!
Yum, this looks so fresh and satisfying! I love love feta 🙂
Love salads like this!
Pregnancy cravings are crazy—mine changed every day I feel like!! This salad looks delicious and healthy!
every. single. day. it. changes. !!!!
🙂
This sounds so insanely delicious!!!! Can’t wait to try it!
With the weather so warm today, I am totally craving this summery salad!
My first trimester I couldn’t even step in the kitchen. Nothing sounded good and I didn’t crave anything.
I know! My poor husband has been really handling the kitchen duty – sometimes I direct from the couch 🙂 NOTHING sounded good…it was making me kinda sad lol
A little bit of this, a little bit of that…what a perfect lunch! I’m so glad you’re feeling better, and that your little one is letting you eat veggies again.
Those are the best lunches aren’t they Dara 🙂 I’m glad the little one is letting me eat veggies (and anything!) again too. xo
Love your site and photography. Thanks for sharing this salad bowl recipe, looks delicious.
Thank so much for your kind words! Glad you found me 🙂
My kind of salad, Aggie. I might just make for dinner! Yummy!
Thanks Sandy – it is your kind of salad! I think you’ll really like it.
Funny, the things that happen to us when expecting. I had different cravings each time. It wasn’t pretty the time it was ice cream. Or pancakes! Oh well, it was fun to indulge and all the weight did come off eventually. I’m glad to hear you’re getting back to the veggies 🙂 This looks super good!
OH yes, I discovered a Dairy Queen by my during my last pregnancy, wasn’t pretty! But my 2 year old at the time was happy 🙂
Aggie,
I’m glad you’re back to enjoying a wider variety of foods. This concept salad looks great, and I bet you can sub many other cooled cooked grains (barley and bulgur jump into mind)..
Thanks!
Or farro! I really need to get in the habit of branching out to other grains. Thanks Kirsten!
This sounds so refreshing! Perfect for all the warm weather days we have ahead. Thanks for sharing the recipe with us!
I’m in my first trimester looking for recipes that sounded appetizing and this looks quite palatable! Cucumbers are so refreshing!
Hope you like it! I know how hard it is to find food to eat during first tri! Congrats and best wishes to you 🙂
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I just recently discovered quinoa and it has become one of my favorite foods. I am always looking for new ways to prepare it and this looks delicious!
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