Protein-Packed Power Lunch Express—Lunch for 2
Protein-Packed Power Lunch Express is a quick, 15-minute Mediterranean-inspired lunch dish, loaded with high-protein ingredients. Enjoy a satisfying combination of quinoa, chickpeas, grilled chicken, and fresh vegetables, all tossed in a zesty lemon-tahini dressing for a nutritious and delicious meal.
Do This With That Stuff
- Rinse 1 cup quinoa in a fine mesh colander under cold water for 1 minute
- In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed quinoa, 1 1/2 cups water, and 1/2 tsp salt
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan, and let it simmer for 15 minutes or until all water is absorbed
- Remove the saucepan from heat and let it sit covered for an additional 5 minutes
- Fluff the cooked quinoa with a fork and transfer it to a large mixing bowl to cool
- While quinoa cools, dice 1 lb grilled chicken breast using a cutting board and chef’s knife
- Add diced chicken to the large mixing bowl with quinoa
- Drain and rinse 1 cup canned chickpeas in a colander and add them to the large mixing bowl with quinoa and chicken
- Halve 1 cup cherry tomatoes and dice 1 medium cucumber on the cutting board using chef’s knife
- Thinly slice 1/4 cup red onion on the cutting board using chef’s knife
- Chop 1/4 cup fresh parsley and 2 tbsp fresh mint on the cutting board using chef’s knife
- Add halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, sliced red onion, chopped parsley, and chopped mint to the large mixing bowl with other ingredients
- In a small mixing bowl, combine 3 tbsp tahini paste, 2 tbsp lemon juice, minced garlic from one clove of garlic using chef’s knife or garlic press, and whisk together until smooth using whisk
- Slowly drizzle in 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil while continuously whisking until well combined with tahini mixture in small mixing bowl
- Season dressing with salt and pepper to taste using teaspoon measure for salt if needed
- Pour dressing over ingredients in large mixing bowl
- Gently mix all ingredients in large mixing bowl until well combined and evenly coated with dressing
Obvious and Not So Obvious Variations and Pairings
☕ Bitter
- Add 1/2 cup arugula
- Add 1/4 cup radicchio, chopped
- Increase lemon juice to 3 tbsp
- Add 1/4 tsp ground mustard
🧂 Salty
- Increase salt to 1 tsp
- Add 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- Add 1/4 cup pitted Kalamata olives, halved
- Replace canned chickpeas with 1 cup canned chickpeas in brine, drained but not rinsed
🍋 Sour
- Increase lemon juice to 4 tbsp
- Add 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- Add 1/4 cup pitted and chopped kalamata olives
🌶️ Spicy
- Add 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- Add 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- Increase lemon juice to 3 tbsp
- Add 1/2 tsp ground cumin
🍬 Sweet
- Add 1/4 cup dried apricots, chopped
- Add 1/4 cup raisins
- Increase lemon juice to 3 tbsp
- Add 1 tbsp honey to dressing
- Add 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon to dressing
🍄 Umami
- Add 1 tbsp soy sauce
- Add 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- Add 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
- Add 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
🍸 Alcoholic
- Rosé Wine: Its crisp acidity complements the flavors of the Mediterranean dish
- White Sangria: The fruity and refreshing nature of the sangria pairs well with the dish’s ingredients
- Belgian Witbier: The beer’s citrus and spice notes enhance the flavors in the recipe
🥤 Non Alcoholic
- Mint Lemonade: The refreshing mint and lemon flavors complement the Mediterranean ingredients
- Sparkling Water with Cucumber: The light, crisp taste of cucumber enhances the dish’s freshness
- Pomegranate Iced Tea: The fruity and slightly tart flavor balances the savory elements of the dish
🥓 Keto
- Remove quinoa
- Replace with 1 cup cauliflower rice
- Remove chickpeas
- Add 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- Add 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
🍆 Mediterranean
- Replace grilled chicken with 1 cup canned tuna, drained
- Add 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- Replace tahini paste with 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
🥑 Paleo
- Replace quinoa with 1 cup cauliflower rice
- Remove canned chickpeas
- Replace tahini paste with 3 tbsp almond butter
🐟 Pescatarian
- Replace 1 lb grilled chicken breast with 1 lb grilled shrimp
- Add 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives
🌱 Vegan
- Replace grilled chicken breast with 1 cup diced firm tofu
- Press tofu for 30 minutes to remove excess moisture before dicing
🥦 Vegetarian
- Remove 1 lb grilled chicken breast
- Add 1 cup diced bell pepper
- Add 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
🥩 Whole30
- Replace quinoa with 1 cup cauliflower rice
- Remove canned chickpeas
- Replace tahini paste with 3 tbsp almond butter
🧠 Brain Health
- Add 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- Add 1/4 cup chopped almonds
- Replace grilled chicken with 1 lb baked salmon
- Add 1/2 cup chopped spinach
- Replace tahini paste with 3 tbsp almond butter
🌾 Celiac Disease
- No changes needed
💩 Crohns Disease
- Remove canned chickpeas
- Replace cherry tomatoes with 1 cup roasted red bell pepper, chopped
- Replace cucumber with 1 cup zucchini, diced
- Remove red onion
- Replace fresh parsley with 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
- Remove fresh mint
- Replace garlic with 1/4 tsp garlic powder
🩸 Diabetes
- Replace 1 cup quinoa with 1 cup cauliflower rice
- Decrease the extra virgin olive oil to 1 tbsp
- Add 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
🍞 Gluten Intolerance
- No changes needed as the recipe is already gluten intolerance friendly.
🫀 Heart Disease
- Replace grilled chicken breast with 1 lb grilled salmon
- Decrease extra virgin olive oil to 1 tbsp
- Add 1/4 cup chopped Kalamata olives
❤️ Heart Health
- Decrease salt to 1/4 tsp
- Replace grilled chicken breast with 1 lb grilled salmon
- Decrease extra virgin olive oil to 1 tbsp
- Add 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
🧂 High Blood Pressure
- Remove 1/2 tsp salt
- Replace 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil with 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- Replace salt and pepper to taste with a pinch of black pepper
🍔 High Cholesterol
- Replace grilled chicken breast with 1 lb grilled tofu, diced
- Replace 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil with 2 tbsp avocado oil
🦠 Immune System
- Add 1/2 cup chopped bell peppers
- Add 1/4 cup chopped spinach
- Add 1 tsp grated ginger
- Add 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
- Increase lemon juice to 3 tbsp
🚽 Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Remove red onion
- Replace garlic with 1/4 tsp garlic-infused olive oil
- Replace canned chickpeas with 1 cup canned lentils, drained and rinsed
- Decrease cucumber to 1/2 medium cucumber, diced
- Remove cherry tomatoes
- Add 1 cup diced red bell pepper
💧 Kidney Disease
- Decrease salt to 1/4 tsp
- Replace canned chickpeas with 1 cup cooked low-sodium chickpeas
- Decrease tahini paste to 2 tbsp
- Remove garlic clove
🐄 Lactose Intolerance
- No changes needed
🍺 Liver Disease
- Decrease salt to 1/4 tsp
- Replace grilled chicken breast with 1 lb grilled turkey breast
- Decrease extra virgin olive oil to 1 tbsp
- Remove garlic clove
🤰 Pregnancy
- No changes needed
Beti’s Reflections
On a recent Mediterranean culinary adventure, I stumbled upon the most delightful Protein-Packed Power Lunch Express. This vibrant dish caught my eye at a quaint seaside café, and I knew I had to recreate it for my lovely readers. So, here it is – a quick and delicious Mediterranean Quinoa Salad that will transport your taste buds to sun-soaked shores!
This Protein-Packed Lunch Recipe serves two and is perfect for those looking for a healthy power lunch option. It’s gluten-free and high in protein, making it an excellent choice for fitness enthusiasts or anyone seeking nutritious meal ideas.
The star ingredients of this Mediterranean Quinoa Salad include 1 cup uncooked quinoa, 1 cup canned chickpeas, 1 lb grilled chicken breast, fresh vegetables like cherry tomatoes and cucumber, red onion, fresh parsley and mint. The zesty lemon-tahini dressing brings everything together with its tangy flavors. Each ingredient plays an essential role in creating a harmonious blend of textures and tastes that will leave you craving more.
To create this Grilled Chicken Quinoa Bowl masterpiece, start by rinsing the quinoa under cold water before cooking it with salted water until tender. While the quinoa cools down, dice the grilled chicken breast and add it to the bowl along with drained chickpeas. Chop up your fresh veggies – cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion – as well as parsley and mint before tossing them into the mix. For the tantalizing tahini dressing salad component, whisk together tahini paste, lemon juice, minced garlic clove, and extra virgin olive oil until smooth; season with salt and pepper to taste. Finally, pour this heavenly dressing over your Quinoa Chickpea Salad ingredients and gently mix until everything is evenly coated.
And there you have it! A scrumptious Protein-Packed Power Lunch Express that’s ready in just 15 minutes! This Mediterranean Quinoa Salad Recipe is perfect for meal prep or a quick and satisfying lunch on-the-go. Enjoy this Grilled Chicken and Chickpea Salad with a side of sunshine and let the flavors transport you to the Mediterranean coast. Bon appétit, my dear readers!
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