Mediterranean Salad-in-a-Jar in the background with a bowl of the salad in the foreground on a light wood table with salad ingredients in the background

Mediterranean Quinoa Mason Jar Salads

Looking to eat healthier, save money, and get organized with meal prep? We have the answer – Mason Jar Salads.

Maybe you think these salads are just another way of making Mason jars trendy but there are lots of advantages to spending a little time on a Sunday afternoon prepping your lunch for the week.

In these days of rising food costs, it makes much more sense to prepare food at home rather than eat out. And of course, wasting food is never a good idea. By following few guidelines, your salads can last five days and be just as fresh as the day you made them. The secret is in the layering.

The basic rule of thumb is to start with your wettest ingredients first (i.e., the salad dressing) then in ascending order layer in your heaviest ingredients and ingredients that won’t absorb moisture or that would benefit from a little absorption, such as marinated artichoke hearts, peppers, or chickpeas. From there you want to add your softer ingredients such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and olives, then your proteins or grains, then any cheese, nuts, or seeds, and finally end off with your greens such as lettuce.

But first – what jar to use? Wide mouth 24 ounce are the easiest to get ingredients in and out. And they are the perfect size for lunch. Quart-sized jars are good for those with a heartier appetite and the half pint jars are perfect for a side salad.

If you layer properly and tighten the lid of the jar, these salads stay fresh for five days! And the possibilities are endless! When you are ready to eat just unscrew the lid and pour into a bowl or just shake well and eat right out of the jar.

To recap:

  • Layer One – The salad dressing
  • Layer Two – Hardy veggies or beans and veggies that could benefit from being in contact with the dressing
  • Layer Three – Softer veggies, olives
  • Layer Four – Grains and/or proteins
  • Layer Five – Cheese, nuts, seeds
  • Layer Six – Greens

To get you started, here is one of our favorites, Mediterranean Quinoa Mason Jar Salads. The dressing is simple; olive oil, Marukan Organic Seasoned Rice Vinegar, salt, and pepper. I love to use the seasoned rice vinegar in this recipe as the mellow slight sweetness offsets the salty, pungent ingredients such as the feta cheese and olives.

Mediterranean Salad-in-a-Jar on a light wood table with salad ingredients in the background

5 from 2 votes
Mediterranean Salad-in-a-Jar in the background with a bowl of the salad in the foreground on a light wood table with salad ingredients in the background
Print Recipe

Gluten-Free Mediterranean Quinoa Mason Jar Salads

Prep Time20 mins
Total Time20 mins
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 736kcal
Author: Gluten Free & More

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons Marukan Organic Seasoned Rice Vinegar
  • Pinch kosher or fine sea salt and pepper
  • 1 cup chickpeas , rinsed and drained
  • 1 red bell pepper , seeded, deveined, and chopped
  • ½ English cucumber , chopped
  • ½ cup kalamata olives , drained
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes , halved
  • 1 cup cooked quinoa
  • 4 ounces feta cheese , crumbled
  • 2 cups chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce

Instructions

  • Combine the olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper, and whisk well. Divide between 2 wide mouth 24 ounce or quart-sized Mason jars.
  • Layer the salad ingredients into the jar in the order given. Tighten the lid and refrigerate for up to five days.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Gluten-Free Mediterranean Quinoa Mason Jar Salads
Amount Per Serving
Calories 736 Calories from Fat 441
% Daily Value*
Fat 49g75%
Saturated Fat 12g60%
Polyunsaturated Fat 6g
Monounsaturated Fat 27g
Cholesterol 50mg17%
Sodium 1202mg50%
Potassium 962mg27%
Carbohydrates 57g19%
Fiber 13g52%
Sugar 11g12%
Protein 22g44%
Vitamin A 6798IU136%
Vitamin C 98mg119%
Calcium 395mg40%
Iron 6mg33%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Watch this recipe in action!


Disclaimer: All nutrition facts on Gluten Free & More are meant only as a guide and may differ depending on product brands used or ingredient substitutions. Some errors may occur, so you are encouraged to confirm the recipe’s ingredient and nutrition suitability for your own diet.
Have you tried this recipe? Give it a star rating and let us know your thoughts in the Ratings & Reviews section below.
Tags: Chickpeas Cucumbers Feta Cheese Healthy Jars Marukan Mediterranean Olives Quinoa Salad Tomatoes
0 shares
Previous Post

Gluten-Free No-Bake Granola Bars

Next Post

Salt & Pepper Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Gluten Free eBook Cover-Game-Day-Snacks

Enter your Email below to recieve a free Ebook

This will add you to our recipe of the week list as well!