Part of the appeal of a quinoa salad is the versatility. The small grain is mighty and considered to be a superfood. It's a complete protein that's rich in fibre and loaded with vitamins and minerals. You can, of course, serve it alongside your meal as a fluffy side. Or, you can convert it into a delicious salad like we did here. We might even call this quinoa salad with chickpeas, apples and feta one of our most favourites.
Ingredients for Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas, Apples and Feta
1 cup quinoa, rinsed in a fine sieve
1/4 cup golden or sultana raisins (you can swap dried cranberries, if you prefer)
1 19 oz (540mL) can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained
large handful flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1/2 cup crumbled feta
1 tart apple, chopped, skin on
1/4 cup canola or olive oil
2 tbsp rice vinegar or lemon juice
1 tsp honey
1/4 tsp curry paste or powder
1/2 cup toasted walnuts, almonds or pistachios
A handful of roughly chopped kale
Directions for Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas, Apples and Feta
- Cook quinoa according to the package directions and set aside in a wide salad bowl to cool. Add the raisins while the quinoa is still warm so they plump up.
- Once cooled, add chickpeas, parsley, kale, feta and apple.
- In a jar, shake up olive oil, vinegar, honey and curry until well combined. Drizzle dressing over top of the quinoa salad. Toss together, then sprinkle with nuts just before serving.
A version of this recipe was originally published in 2014. Updated in August 2025.
