Quinoa Caprese Salad

by Gayle on Jul 1, 2015 (updated Nov 11, 2019) 92 comments »

Filled with hearty quinoa, fresh tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and basil, this Quinoa Caprese Salad combines the classic flavors into a healthier dish. It’s easy to make, packed with protein, and is bursting with flavor!

It’s already July 1st. Can you believe it? We’re just three short days away from the 4th of July, which in my mind, means that summer is about half over. And I feel like we’re just getting started!

When I was little, I felt like the summer stretched on forever, until the 4th came. Then, I started thinking about school. But lucky for me, my school days are long gone and even though we’ve made it through almost half the summer already, we still have a lot of fun in the sun and festivities to look forward to.

First up is the 4th of July!

While this is a rather low-key holiday for me, I love to get together with friends and family, eat some good food, and watch the fireworks at night. It’s the perfect end to a great summer day. And since the 4th is on a Saturday this year, it makes it even better since you have Sunday to recuperate before going back to work. Am I right or am I right?

Filled with hearty quinoa, fresh tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and basil, this Quinoa Caprese Salad combines the classic flavors into a healthier dish. It's easy to make, packed with protein, and is bursting with flavor!

But back to the food. That’s one of the things that I love most about the 4th of July (and the summer). Lots of barbecues, salads, and good old-fashioned get-together, outdoor classic dishes. Which brings me to fried chicken. This is one food that reminds me of picnics and warm weather. It’s an American staple that is pretty much present at all parties, graduations, and most importantly the 4th.

When I was at Walmart over the weekend, I decided to pick up some of their fresh, hot fried chicken that is located in the deli section.

It seemed only natural that I should taste it before bringing it along to a party for the 4th. And I happy to report that this chicken did not disappoint. It’s made fresh, using quality chicken and then fried to perfection. It’s crispy, flavorful and everything that fried chicken should taste like. Trust me, you will not be disappointed by Walmart’s fresh, fried chicken.

So now that I had my main dish covered, I had to think of the perfect party dish to go along with it. And what screams summer more than the combination of tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella? Caprese-anything is my absolute favorite. Ever since I made this caprese garlic bread, I’ve been on the hunt for new ways to incorporate these fresh ingredients into a side dish.

And that’s where this Quinoa Caprese Salad comes in.

Filled with hearty quinoa, fresh tomatoes, creamy mozzarella and basil, this salad combines the classic flavors into a healthier dish. It’s easy to make, packed with protein, and is bursting with flavor. It also makes the perfect 4th of July dish because it can be served hot or cold. And that means if you take this on a picnic or to a friend’s house, there is no need to warm this dish up. Pretty clever, huh?

So let’s get down to business!

This Quinoa Caprese Salad is incredibly easy to make, which is perfect for the summer months. You simply cook the quinoa in some chicken broth (for enhanced flavor) and then set aside to cool. Chop some cherry tomatoes and fresh basil. I used mozzarella pearls for ease, but if you would rather use a block of mozzarella, simply dice it into small cubes.

Next comes the dressing. Add some olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and a touch of garlic to the quinoa. Gently toss to combine and then add in the tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella. You can serve this salad immediately, refrigerate until ready to serve, or warm up if you so desire.

One bite and you’ll be hooked on this Quinoa Caprese Salad!

The tangy dressing and basil bursts in your mouth. And the quinoa is the perfect side to go along with the tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. You could say this salad is a match made in food heaven!

So if you’re looking for the perfect dish to bring to your 4th of July festivities, why not try this Quinoa Caprese Salad? It pairs perfectly with Walmart’s fresh, hot fried chicken and will wow your taste buds!

Quinoa Caprese Salad

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