Vegetarian Grilled Zucchini and Quinoa Salad with Balsamic Lemon Vinaigrette
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Our Vegetarian grilled zucchini salad recipe has been a hit with everyone and no one ever misses the meat. Make this for your next potluck or party! 
Grilled Zucchini Salad Recipe
There’s no reason to not love vegetables, especially grilled zucchini. In fact, it’s one of our most popular dishes for parties because there’s so much flavor and texture, everyone is extra estatic to find out that it’s vegetarian. Vegetarian recipes are super delicious, especially vegetarian salads like this one that’s loaded with color, other veggies, outstanding flavors and great textures that ties all the best veggie ingredients into one bite. The balsamic lemon vinaigrette is what helps tie all the flavors together and it’s an outstanding, flavorful dressing!
VIDEO: Vegetarian Grilled Zucchini Salad
Tips for Making Grilled Zucchini Salad
Zucchini is truly one of the most versatile vegetables and during Summer, zucchini explodes. So grilling up a few thick slices that are seasoned well with salt and pepper is the starting point to this fantastic Summer salad.
- Chop up the zucchini and add pretty much what you like. We suggest tomato, fresh herbs and a flavorful vinaigrette. This vegetarian zucchini salad is super versatile.
- We added quinoa for the addition of a healthy whole grain. You can even add any whole grain that you want. Add what you like and everyone will love eating healthier.
- This salad pairs perfectly with Summer grilled meats like pork, ribs, brisket and chicken. You’ll definitely need a great healthy salad recipe to accompany these rich meats and you won’t be disappointed! Zucchini lovers will appreciate you bringing a big bowl of this amazing salad.
Favorite BBQs & Tools:
Some tools, grills, and smokers make BBQ and grilling all the more enjoyable. Here’s some of the favorites:
The Ultimate BBQ Tongs –Avoid BBQ Tool Sets. We’ve yet to find a set where we love everything in it. Either the spatula or the tongs or the brush is wonky. Or there is stuff in there that is never needed. Do yourself a favor and just buy what you need a la carte. For grilling tongs, these bad boys are awesome.
Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling –Have a grilling or BBQ question, you’ll most likely find an answer here. The most comprehensive grilling & BBQ book we’ve ever found, by far. He breaks down the science and myths, the tools, solid recipes, perfecting techniques, what’s BBQ competition tricks aren’t worth the extra time at home, and much more. You will be grill & BBQ enlightened.
Oasity BBQ Light –Grilling should never be confined to the daylight. Love this BBQ light. Good brightness, solid magnets plus clamp option. We’ve gone through 1/2 dozen different grilling lights before falling in love with this one. Be ready to grill all night long.
Oklahoma Joe’s Reverse Flow Offset Smoker –Love this offset smoker. Solid construction. Isn’t perfect, but with a couple easy modifications it will smoke as well as the $1k + smokers. Can use the main chamber also as a regular charcoal grill. Love using it as a regular grill using lump charcoal or briquettes. Huge cooking surface.
Charbroil 4-burner Gas Grill –One of the best for the money. Solid gas grill! Nothing like the quick convenience of a good gas grill.
Grill Baskets –Some days we just need to keep the little things contained on the grill. Throw them all into a basket and grill from there. Easy-peasy.
Vegetarian Grilled Zucchini & Quinoa Salad w/ Balsamic Lemon Vinaigrette
Don't slice the zucchini too thin before you grill them since they will shrink down. We like it between 1/4"-1/2" thick before grilling. That way you'll get a nice lit bit of crust balanced against the softer interior.
Ingredients
For the Zucchini and Quinoa
- 3 medium zucchini , cut into 1/2” thick slices
- 2 Tablespoons (30ml) olive oil , for brushing
- 1 1/2 cups (360ml) cooked quinoa
For the Salad
- 1 cup (240ml) cherry tomatoes , halved or quartered
- 3 Tablespoons (45ml) minced red onion
- 4 oz. (113g) feta cheese
- 15 oz. (425g) canned black beans, white beans or chickpeas (drained)
- salt and pepper , to taste
- 1/4 cup (60ml) fresh chopped basil
- 1 cup cooked or grilled corn kernels, (optional)
FOR THE DRESSING:
- 1/2 cup (60ml) olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons (30ml) balsamic vinegar
- zest of 1 medium lemon
- 2 Tablespoons (30ml) fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons (3ml) sugar or honey
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt , or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano or 2 teaspoons fresh chopped oregano
Instructions
- Cook quinoa to package instructions and allow to cool completely. Set aside.
- Heat grill. Lightly brush zucchini slices and season all sides with salt and pepper. Grill each side of zucchini until brown and crisp, about 2-3 minutes.Chop grilled zucchini into large bite sized pieces.
- In large bowl whisk together all the dressing ingredients (olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar, garlic, salt, pepper, and oregano) Taste the dressing and adjust salt, pepper or additional seasonings, to taste.
- In the same dressing bowl, add the zucchini, quinoa, cherry tomatoes, red onion, feta cheese, beans or chickpeas, and basil or corn. Gently toss everything together.You can eat it right away at room temperature or serve chilled for the next day. Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition Information per Serving
Calories: 431kcal, Carbohydrates: 35g, Protein: 11g, Fat: 28g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 17mg, Sodium: 938mg, Potassium: 673mg, Fiber: 8g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 462IU, Vitamin C: 28mg, Calcium: 155mg, Iron: 3mg
Try our baked parmesan zucchini fries, air fryer zucchini and sriracha zucchini stir fry. More Salad Recipes and Easy Roasted Zucchini Recipe. This recipe was originally published in 2018 and re-published in 2021 with updated video.
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4 Comments on “Vegetarian Grilled Zucchini and Quinoa Salad with Balsamic Lemon Vinaigrette”
I really really loved the dressing for this salad. Such great Summer flavor.
This salad was very tasty with the dressing recipe. I would make some modifications, however. I would not use as much quinoa but more vegetables, especially more cherry tomatoes. Instead of regular dark balsamic vinegar, try a white variety instead which will not impart a dark color to the quinoa upon mixing. All in all, an excellent cold salad in itself that could also serve to compliment grilled lamb or pork kabobs.
Awesome healthy recipe! This salad is becoming one of my favs.
This is the good stuff! It’s so flavorful and filling while being guilt-free. Great recipe.