Lean Green Protein Machine Salad—Lunch for 2

The Lean Green Protein Machine Salad is a quick, easy Mediterranean lunch dish. Packed with protein and healthy fats, it features a vibrant mix of greens. This nutritious salad offers a refreshing blend of flavors and textures, making it an ideal choice for a light yet satisfying meal.

Meal Type

Lunch

Cuisine

Mediterranean

Servings

2

Food Stars

Health

Variations

Diets

Variations

You Need This Stuff

  • 2 cups mixed greens, chopped
  • 1 cup chickpeas, cooked
  • 1/2 cup quinoa, cooked
  • 1 medium cucumber, diced
  • 1 medium tomato, diced
  • 1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 whole lemon, juiced
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste

Do This With That Stuff

  1. ‘Gather all your ingredients and cookware
  2. Rinse 2 cups of mixed greens under cold water using the colander, then chop them on the cutting board using the chef’s knife
  3. Place the chopped greens into the large salad bowl
  4. Rinse 1 cup of cooked chickpeas under cold water in the colander, then add them to the salad bowl
  5. Measure out 1/2 cup of cooked quinoa using the measuring cup set and add it to the salad bowl
  6. Wash and dry 1 medium cucumber and 1 medium tomato, then dice them on the cutting board using the chef’s knife
  7. Add these diced vegetables to the salad bowl
  8. Measure out 1/2 cup of pitted and sliced kalamata olives using the measuring cup set, then add them to the salad bowl
  9. Measure out 1/2 cup of crumbled feta cheese with your measuring cup set and add it to your salad bowl
  10. In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, juice from one whole lemon (use citrus juicer), 1 teaspoon dried oregano (use teaspoon measure), salt to taste, and pepper to taste Whisk these ingredients together until well combined for your dressing
  11. Pour this dressing over your salad in the large bowl Toss everything together until all ingredients are evenly coated with dressing’

Obvious and Not So Obvious Variations and Pairings

 

☕ Bitter

 

 

 

    • ‘Add 1 cup of chopped radicchio

 

 

    • Add 1/2 cup of arugula

 

 

    • Increase the lemon juice to 2 whole lemons, juiced

 

 

    • Add 1/4 cup of capers

 

 

    • Replace feta cheese with blue cheese, 1/2 cup crumbled’

 

 

 

 

🧂 Salty

 

 

 

    • Increase the feta cheese to 3/4 cup

 

 

    • Add 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt to the dressing

 

 

    • Increase kalamata olives to 3/4 cup

 

 

    • Add 1 tablespoon capers

 

 

 

 

🍋 Sour

 

 

 

    • Increase the whole lemon to 2, juiced

 

 

    • Add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar

 

 

    • Add 1/4 cup of capers

 

 

    • Replace kalamata olives with 3/4 cup of pickled cucumbers, diced

 

 

 

 

🌶️ Spicy

 

 

 

    • Add 1 tsp of crushed red pepper flakes

 

 

    • Add 2 cloves of minced garlic to the dressing

 

 

    • Increase dried oregano to 2 tsp

 

 

    • Add 1/2 cup diced jalapeno peppers

 

 

    • Replace extra virgin olive oil with 2 tbsp of chili oil

 

 

 

 

🍬 Sweet

 

 

 

    • ‘Add 1/2 cup diced bell pepper, red

 

 

    • Add 1/4 cup dried cranberries

 

 

    • Increase the lemon juice to 2 whole lemons, juiced

 

 

    • Add 1 tablespoon honey to the dressing

 

 

    • Replace the tomato with 1 medium ripe peach, diced’

 

 

 

 

🍄 Umami

 

 

 

    • ‘Add 1/2 cup of sun-dried tomatoes

 

 

    • Add 1 tbsp of soy sauce to the dressing

 

 

    • Increase kalamata olives to 3/4 cup

 

 

    • Add 1/2 cup of roasted red peppers

 

 

    • Add 2 tsp of nutritional yeast to the dressing’

 

 

 

🍸 Alcoholic
  • ‘Greek White Wine (Assyrtiko): The acidity and mineral flavors of this wine complement the fresh, tangy elements of the salad
  • Dry Rosé: Its light, fruity notes balance the richness of feta cheese and olives in the salad
  • Gin and Tonic: The botanicals in gin and the bitterness from tonic water can cut through the salad’s richness while complementing its Mediterranean flavors’
🥤 Non Alcoholic
  • ‘Sparkling Water with Lemon: The bubbles and acidity from the lemon can cleanse the palate and refresh the mouth between bites of the salad
  • Green Tea: The slight bitterness of green tea can balance out the saltiness from the feta cheese and olives in the salad
  • Pomegranate Juice: The sweet and tart flavor of pomegranate juice complements the Mediterranean flavors in the salad’
IMPORTANT NOTE: Artificial Intelligence created this—this means the following may or may not be correct or accurate. If following a specific diet is critical to your health and well-being due to ailments or health conditions, please consult your doctor before trying any of these variations.

🥓 Keto
  • Remove 1 cup chickpeas
  • Remove 1/2 cup quinoa
  • Add 1/2 cup diced avocado
  • Add 1/2 cup diced bell peppers
  • Increase the extra virgin olive oil to 3 tbsp
🍆 Mediterranean
  • No changes needed. The recipe is already Mediterranean friendly.
🥑 Paleo
  • Remove 1 cup chickpeas
  • Remove 1/2 cup quinoa
  • Remove 1/2 cup feta cheese
  • Add 1 cup diced chicken breast, cooked
  • Add 1/2 cup sliced almonds
🐟 Pescatarian
  • Add 1 cup of grilled shrimp
  • Replace chickpeas with 1 cup of cooked lentils
🌱 Vegan
  • ‘Remove feta cheese
  • Add 1/2 cup of vegan cheese, crumbled’
🥦 Vegetarian
  • No changes needed. The provided recipe is already vegetarian friendly.
🥩 Whole30
  • Remove 1 cup chickpeas
  • Remove 1/2 cup quinoa
  • Remove 1/2 cup feta cheese
  • Add 1 cup diced chicken breast, cooked
  • Add 1 medium avocado, diced
  • Add 1/2 cup of sliced almonds
IMPORTANT NOTE: Artificial Intelligence created this—this means the following may or may not be correct or accurate. If following a specific diet is critical to your health and well-being due to ailments or health conditions, please consult your doctor before trying any of these variations.

🧠 Brain Health
  • ‘Add 1/2 cup of walnuts
  • Add 1/2 cup of blueberries
  • Replace quinoa with 1/2 cup of cooked wild rice
  • Replace feta cheese with 1/2 cup of diced avocado
  • Add 1 tablespoon of flaxseeds
  • Increase extra virgin olive oil to 3 tablespoons’
🌾 Celiac Disease
  • No changes needed. The recipe is already celiac disease friendly as it does not contain any gluten-containing ingredients.
💩 Crohns Disease
  • ‘Remove chickpeas
  • Remove quinoa
  • Replace mixed greens with 2 cups of cooked spinach
  • Replace cucumber with 1 medium zucchini, cooked and diced
  • Remove tomato
  • Remove kalamata olives
  • Decrease feta cheese to 1/4 cup
  • Replace extra virgin olive oil with 2 tbsp of coconut oil
  • Remove lemon juice
  • Decrease dried oregano to 1/2 tsp’
🩸 Diabetes
  • Remove feta cheese
  • Replace extra virgin olive oil with 1 tbsp of avocado oil
  • Add 1/2 cup of diced bell peppers
  • Add 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts
🍞 Gluten Intolerance
  • No changes are necessary for this recipe. All ingredients listed are naturally gluten-free and safe for individuals with gluten intolerance.
🫀 Heart Disease
  • ‘Remove feta cheese
  • Replace extra virgin olive oil with 1 tbsp of avocado oil
  • Add 1/2 cup of diced red bell pepper
  • Add 1/2 cup of diced avocado
  • Decrease kalamata olives to 1/4 cup’
❤️ Heart Health
  • ‘Remove feta cheese
  • Increase mixed greens to 3 cups
  • Add 1/2 cup of sliced red bell pepper
  • Add 1/2 cup of sliced yellow bell pepper
  • Decrease extra virgin olive oil to 1 tablespoon
  • Add 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil
  • Add 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts’
🧂 High Blood Pressure
  • Remove Salt to taste
  • Replace feta cheese with 1/2 cup of low-sodium feta cheese
  • Replace kalamata olives with 1/2 cup of low-sodium black olives
  • Add 1/2 cup of diced celery for extra crunch and fiber
🍔 High Cholesterol
  • ‘Remove feta cheese
  • Replace extra virgin olive oil with 1 tbsp of avocado oil
  • Add 1/2 cup of sliced avocados
  • Add 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts’
🦠 Immune System
  • Add 1/2 cup of chopped bell peppers
  • Add 1/2 cup of chopped broccoli
  • Add 2 cloves of minced garlic to the dressing
  • Increase lemon juice to 2 whole lemons
  • Replace feta cheese with 1/2 cup of chopped almonds
  • Add 1 tablespoon of chia seeds
🚽 Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • ‘Remove chickpeas
  • Remove quinoa
  • Add 1/2 cup cooked brown rice
  • Remove kalamata olives
  • Remove feta cheese
  • Add 1/2 cup diced bell peppers
  • Add 1/4 cup shredded carrots
  • Decrease the extra virgin olive oil to 1 tablespoon’
💧 Kidney Disease
  • ‘Remove chickpeas
  • Decrease quinoa to 1/4 cup
  • Remove kalamata olives
  • Remove feta cheese
  • Decrease extra virgin olive oil to 1 tbsp
  • Remove salt’
🐄 Lactose Intolerance
  • Remove feta cheese
  • Add 1/2 cup of diced bell peppers
🍺 Liver Disease
  • Remove feta cheese
  • Decrease extra virgin olive oil to 1 tbsp
  • Replace kalamata olives with 1/2 cup of diced red bell pepper
  • Add 1/2 cup of cooked lentils
🤰 Pregnancy
  • Replace feta cheese with pasteurized feta cheese
  • Add 1/2 cup of diced red bell pepper
  • Add 1/2 cup of diced avocado

Beti’s Reflections

On a recent culinary adventure through the Mediterranean, I stumbled upon a gem of a dish that had me swooning over its simplicity and robust flavors. The Lean Green Protein Machine Salad was the star of a quaint little bistro in Greece, and I knew I had to bring this Mediterranean Protein Salad Recipe back to my readers at TheKitchen.ai.

Introducing the Lean Green Protein Machine Salad – a delightful medley of fresh greens, protein-packed chickpeas, and hearty quinoa. This Healthy Quinoa Chickpea Salad is perfect for two people looking for an Easy Mediterranean Diet Recipe that’s light yet satisfying. It’s also an excellent choice for those following High Protein Vegetarian Recipes or seeking nutritious Quinoa and Chickpea Recipes.

The ingredients in this salad are as vibrant as they are flavorful. We start with 2 cups of mixed greens, chopped to perfection. These greens form the base of our Healthy Mixed Greens Salad Recipe and provide a refreshing crunch. Next up is 1 cup of cooked chickpeas and 1/2 cup of cooked quinoa – key players in our High Protein Vegetarian Salad Recipe. Add in diced cucumber and tomato for freshness, sliced kalamata olives for that authentic Mediterranean touch, and crumbled feta cheese for a tangy kick. The dressing is simple yet impactful – extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano, salt, and pepper whisked together until well combined.

Now let’s dive into how to make this Easy Mediterranean Salad Recipe! Start by gathering all your ingredients and cookware. Rinse your mixed greens under cold water then chop them up before placing them into your salad bowl. Rinse your cooked chickpeas too before adding them to the mix along with your cooked quinoa. Dice up your cucumber and tomato then toss them into the bowl along with your sliced kalamata olives and crumbled feta cheese. For the dressing, combine your olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and whisk until well combined. Pour this Homemade Kalamata Olive Salad Dressing over your salad and toss everything together until evenly coated. And voila! Your Lean Green Protein Machine Salad is ready to serve.

In conclusion, this Lean Green Protein Machine Salad Recipe is a quick and easy way to enjoy a light yet satisfying meal packed with protein and healthy fats. It’s perfect for those looking for Vegetarian Mediterranean Dishes or Quick and Easy Protein Rich Salads. So why wait? Dive into this Mediterranean Salad with Quinoa and Chickpeas today and let me know how you like it!

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Editors Note:

This recipe has not yet been reviewed by a human.

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