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Home » salads » Quinoa Salad with feta, fennel and blueberries

Quinoa Salad with feta, fennel and blueberries

Posted Apr 13, 2021 | Updated Nov 23, 2022 by Helen | 23 Comments |

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3 photos showing a quinoa salad with feta, fennel and blueberries from different angles and there's a title above them

If you’ve never tried raw fennel in a salad, try it in this delicious – and very healthy – quinoa salad with feta, fennel and blueberries. With its easy apple cider vinegar dressing, it’s super healthy, but it’s also one very tasty salad. It’s the perfect mix of crunchy, crisp, fruity and nutty!

A glass bowl of quinoa salad with feta, fennel and blueberries on a black background from above and with a red plastic spoon and veggie scraps

Jump to

  • What’s so great about it?
  • About the ingredients
  • How to make it
  • How to serve it
  • More ways to vary your salad
  • Recipe FAQ
  • More Australian recipes
  • Recipe

What’s so great about it?

Quinoa salads are a pretty good idea in general, right?

Quinoa is filling and kind of nutty, like a grain (except it isn’t a real grain – it’s a protein!). It also tastes good cold so it’s perfect for making ahead and tossing into salads. As if all that wasn’t enough, it’s also very nutritious for a bunch of reasons I won’t bore you with.

But here’s where you can take a humble(ish) quinoa salad from good to incredible. Add cheese (in this case feta cheese), fennel for crispness and a subtle aniseed taste, a fruit (blueberries) and a nutty crunch in the form of slivered almonds. What do you get? A perfect healthy combination of bite, umami, crunch and tang.

Pour a very simple apple cider vinegar and olive oil dressing over the top and I don’t think there’s any way to improve this simple, delicious and healthy salad.

About the ingredients

Cubes of feta and chopped almonds and other ingredients on a wooden chopping board for a blueberry, fennel and feta quinoa salad

Quinoa: You need a cup of dried quinoa for this salad. To cook it, see what it says on the packet, but you usually rinse it then simmer it for around 15 minutes in 2 cups of water. Quinoa comes in various colours, so use whichever you like! If you like, you can even use a packet of ‘instant’ quinoa that comes in a microwavable pouch if you can get that where you live.

Fennel: If you’ve never prepared fennel before, don’t be scared! It’s really amazing both raw in salads and cooked in savoury dishes. Try this sausage and fennel bolognese to try it cooked! To prepare it raw for this salad, all you do is chop the long ‘end’ off, then chop up the big bulb like you would an onion.

Onion: Just 1/2 a red one for a bit of extra pizzazz! If you like, you can substitute with a few salad/spring onions instead.

Blueberries: No explanation needed here. You just need half a cup of nice fresh juicy blueberries.

Feta cheese: Again, around half a cup of it, crumbled. I should have called this salad the half a cup quinoa salad! The amounts don’t have to be exact, though. Just crumble the cheese and throw it in. If you like, you can use goat cheese or another sharp crumbly cheese instead.

Salad leaves and herbs: In the recipe, I’ve stated arugula/rocket, but really any fresh green salad leaves will be fine. I also like to add some fresh parsley and/or dill if you’re a fan.

Slivered almonds: For crunch! Obviously you can substitute with another kind of nut if you like!

For the dressing

It’s so easy to make the dressing for this salad. All you need is apple cider vinegar and olive oil. You might not need all of the dressing, but it’ll keep for quite a while in a sealed container in the fridge.

How to make it

Here are the extremely simple steps:

Step 1: Prepare the quinoa and set aside. Obviously you can chop all the other ingredients and whisk together the dressing while it’s cooking.

Step 2: Toss everything together except the quinoa.

Step 3: Toss the quinoa through everything else. It’ll probably still be warm, so you’ll end up with a ‘kind of’ warm salad.

Step 4: Drizzle over the dressing and lightly toss. Serve immediately!

How to serve it

  • In a big dish all to yourself. Serve as it is or top with some rotisserie/supermarket cooked chicken, or pan-fried halloumi cheese. Yum!
  • As a side dish for a crowd at a BBQ.
  • Midweek with some simple grilled meat or fish, a piece of this amazing crustless quiche (impossible quiche) or something vegetarian.

Apple cider or blueberry vinaigrette?

If you want to keep things simple, just drizzle over a simple apple cider vinegar and olive oil dressing as suggested in the recipe.

Alternatively… if you really want your mind blown… make this 5-minute blueberry vinaigrette instead!

And while we’re on the topic of the blueberry dressing, I’d also highly recommend trying it with this blueberry salad with bacon and avocado. It’ll blow your mind!

More ways to vary your salad

There’s a formula to this salad, and it’s pretty simple – not to mention amazing: something filling and nutritious (the quinoa), something crispy and tasty (the fennel), something tangy and moreish (the cheese), something fruity (the blueberries), and something crunchy (the nuts).

And so… you know what I’m going to say… feel absolutely free to try different cheeses (goat’s cheese, Swiss cheese, ricotta, blue cheese or even plain old cheddar…), different fruits (strawberries, peaches or mandarin slices…), and different nuts (pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts, macadamias….).

If you like you can even replace the quinoa with pasta (orzo maybe?), brown rice or any kind of grain like farro or buckwheat. In this case it won’t be a quinoa salad any more of course, but it will still be very delicious!

Pro tip: Like the sound of this ‘salad formula’? Try this blood orange fennel salad with radishes and feta too!

Recipe FAQ

How do you cook quinoa?

Easy. Always check the packet instructions. But generally you cook it similarly to how you cook rice. Rinse in a fine sieve. Then pour quinoa into a saucepan and add double the amount of water: so 1 cup of quinoa, 2 cups of water, etc. Simmer for around 15 minutes until tender but still with a bit of bite.

Lately however I’ve noticed you can buy ready cooked microwavable pouches of quinoa in supermarkets. No harm in using one of these instead!

How do you prepare fennel?

Preparing fennel is a bit like preparing an onion! First cut off the long stem and the very end of the fennel bulb. Keep the green leafy parts for garnishing your dish if you like. Then cut off the other end of the bulb (just the very end – just like you do when cutting an onion). Then cut the bulb in half and slice each half thinly. Alternatively you can chop it more coarsely like when you prepare an onion for a savoury dish. It’s up to you!

How long does this salad keep?

This salad is best eaten immediately when the quinoa is still slightly warm and the greens and nuts are crisp and fresh.

If you’d like to prepare it ahead you can pre-prepare the quinoa. Toss together all the other ingredients and pop in the fridge, covered. Just before you want to serve your salad, toss the quinoa through and pour over the dressing. Enjoy!

This makes a really good take-along lunch or picnic salad too. Just take the dressing along in a separate container.

A corner of a glass bowl of quinoa salad with feta, fennel and blueberries from above on a black background

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A corner of a glass bowl of quinoa salad with feta, fennel and blueberries from above on a black background

Quinoa Salad with Fennel, Feta and Blueberries

A juicy, crispy and crunchy quinoa salad full of fresh green leaves, herbs, fruit, nuts and cheese and bursting with flavour. Great for sharing with a crowd as a side dish or for a few to enjoy as a light, vegetarian meal.
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
Prep Time 20 mins
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings (click to change) 3 -4
Author Helen

Equipment (affiliate links)

  • set of 3 sieves

Ingredients (UK/Australia? Click below for grams/ml)

cups/ounces – grams/ml

For the salad

  • 1 cup dry quinoa
  • 1 bulb fennel
  • ½ a red onion
  • ½ cup fresh blueberries
  • 1 cup crumbled or cubed feta cheese
  • 3½ ounces rocket/arugula or mixed salad leaves
  • 1-2 handfuls of chopped fresh parsley and/or dill
  • ¼ cup chopped or slivered toasted almonds

For the dressing

  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ⅓ cup olive oil
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Instructions
 

  • Cook the quinoa according to the packet instructions and set aside.
  • Thinly slice the fennel bulb and onion and put in a large bowl.
  • Add the blueberries, feta, salad leaves and fresh parsley and/or dill and toss well. Then toss through the quinoa.
  • Make the dressing by whisking the vinegar with the oil, then pour over the salad and toss well again.
  • Finally, scatter over the almonds and, if you wish, some of the wispy green fronds from the top of the fennel. Serve immediately!

Notes

Serve immediately after preparation for the best results. Alternatively, prepare in advance up to step three, then add the dressing and almonds just before serving.
Try adding chopped apple, strawberries, sliced peaches or mandarin segments instead of the blueberries or a different kind of cheese instead of feta (goat’s, blue, ricotta etc.).
As always with a salad, the above ingredient amounts are only a guideline. Adding a little more or less of an ingredient will not matter in the slightest (in my humble opinion!)
Drizzle over this blueberry vinaigrette instead of the apple cider dressing if you prefer. 

Nutrition

Calories: 580kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 16gFat: 35gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 613mgPotassium: 869mgFiber: 7gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1130IUVitamin C: 18.5mgCalcium: 369mgIron: 4.2mg
Tried this recipe?Let me know if you liked it!

Comments

  1. Don Orwell @ SuperfoodsToday says

    03 Oct 14 at 9:01 am

    This is one great Superfoods recipe!! Can I feature it on my blog? I’ll put a link back to your blog.

    Reply
    • Helen says

      03 Oct 14 at 11:04 am

      Hi Don … yes, no problem at all! That would be great! Really happy you like this recipe!

      Reply
  2. Yvette @Muy Bueno says

    01 Feb 14 at 12:10 am

    This salad sounds so delicious. Anything topped with feta cheese and almonds is fantastic. Love the touch of quinoa too 😉

    Reply
    • Helen says

      01 Feb 14 at 2:36 pm

      Thanks for visiting, Yvette! This ended up as a pretty hearty, healthy salad!

      Reply
  3. cheri says

    30 Jan 14 at 12:13 pm

    Hi Helen, Love salads like this, will be making soon. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Helen says

      30 Jan 14 at 3:02 pm

      Great! Let me know what you think if you do make it!

      Reply
  4. Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says

    30 Jan 14 at 8:52 am

    I never thought about mixing blueberries into a salad, I love that! Sending you good vibes on that tooth ache!

    Reply
    • Helen says

      30 Jan 14 at 3:04 pm

      Thank you, Pamela … I really need the good vibes. Still struggling with the tooth and trying to figure out what to do. Do try adding some blueberries to a salad some time. Or any fruit, really. I think it goes really well.

      Reply
  5. Ashley says

    29 Jan 14 at 8:23 pm

    Oh gosh, long flights can be so miserable! I go stir-crazy and the food is well … terrible! This salad looks wonderful – love the addition of the blueberries! And I hope your tooth feels better soon!

    Reply
    • Helen says

      29 Jan 14 at 10:31 pm

      Thank you, Ashley … I’m getting there with the tooth but it’s been a tough one … and such bad timing! Actually, the food wasn’t that awful this time, but you are sure sick of it after the fourth serving!

      Reply
  6. Denise says

    29 Jan 14 at 3:39 pm

    Fennel must be the order of the day I have just posted a fennel and coconut tart. Love the look and sound of this salad.

    Reply
    • Helen says

      29 Jan 14 at 10:32 pm

      Wow, Denise, the fennel and coconut tart sounds amazing … so unusual! I’ll definitely pop over to your blog to check that one out!

      Reply
  7. Cate @ Chez CateyLou says

    29 Jan 14 at 5:41 am

    This salad looks so fresh and delicious! I love all the flavors that you combined in here. Hope your tooth is feeling better!

    Reply
    • Helen says

      29 Jan 14 at 1:05 pm

      Thank you, Cate, and so happy to ‘meet’ you and find your blog – just had a little look and I love it! The salad was a tasty one indeed, although I say it myself. Love fruit/nuts/cheese together! As for the tooth, well unfortunately I still have toothache 🙁 Trying to get it sorted, though!

      Reply
  8. Aimee / WallflowerGirl.co.uk says

    29 Jan 14 at 2:53 am

    Never would have thought of using these flavours but they sound beautiful. Also, I sympathize with your tooth-woes. I just got back from the dentist earlier and am too numb to eat anything… bad time to be looking at delicious food on the internet perhaps!

    Reply
    • Helen says

      29 Jan 14 at 1:11 pm

      I think my tooth needs work so I’ll have the numb thing going on soon too ;-( You’re right, it’s hard to be too enthusiastic about food with a tooth issue! As for the salad, I remember that Jamie Oliver often makes salads with fennel and fruit so I thought I’d give it a go too – try the combination of fruit, nuts, cheese and fennel some time, it’s delicious!

      Reply
  9. Hether says

    29 Jan 14 at 12:54 am

    I am always looking for a great salad! This fits that bill! Pinned!

    Reply
    • Helen says

      29 Jan 14 at 1:28 am

      Thanks for pinning, Hether … and for stopping by the blog. Really enjoyed yours and so happy you liked the salad!

      Reply
  10. Chris @ Shared Appetite says

    28 Jan 14 at 7:13 pm

    So many excellent looking flavors going on in this salad! Looks so refreshingly delicious!

    Reply
    • Helen says

      28 Jan 14 at 11:12 pm

      It was tasty indeed, especially with the addition of the apple cider vinegar 🙂

      Reply
  11. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says

    28 Jan 14 at 7:05 am

    Fabulous looking salad! We have some Israeli restaurants near to us and I always like the salads and the flavour combos 😀

    Reply
    • Helen says

      28 Jan 14 at 1:31 pm

      Thanks, Lorraine. After over ten years of Greek salads while I was living in Greece – lovely as they are – the Aussie barbecues gave me the perfect excuse to start experimenting a bit with some different ones!

      Reply

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