Vegan Hearts of palm salad with quinoa and olives makes for the perfect light and refreshing meatless meal. Made with only seven ingredients, (including the magical Castelvetrano olive) and ready within minutes. This is the light holiday meal you’ve been looking for. Gluten Free too
What are your thoughts on olives? Love them of hate them? The crowd seems to always split when you bring up the topic of olives. It seems that this is one food that people consistently feel very strongly about. Some people love love love olives, and others simply can’t stand them.
Can you guess which group I belong to?
The lover of all things olive related of course!
It couldn’t be any other way right? I mean being the food and wine lover than I am, I was always bound to be obsessed with olives and while I always thought I loved them I didn’t really know what olive love meant until I came across the Castelvetrano olive.
This is far and away the best olive ever (in my opinion of course). I first discovered these mild, and gentle green olives while on a US road trip last year. D and I had just picked up my other two cousins from the airport – the had flown in on Christmas Eve to spend two weeks traveling around California with us, and luckily right outside of San Francisco, my other cousin lives. What could be better than a cousin filled Christmas?
It was at said cousin’s house that I first tried this magical olive. Naturally we were all drinking plenty of wine as our Christmas Eve starter and my cousin was serving olives to go with our drinks.
Talk about the best wine appetizer ever. This little green olive is just about the best thing ever. If you have any olives haters in your life, send them to me so I can change their minds with just one bite of the Castelvetrano olive. This is unlike the standard super strong green olives of your past. This Italian olive is mild, gentle and tender. Nothing compares to this.
It is simply magic in your mouth. Perfect with wine. Perfect without wine. Shines on its own or in the dish. This specific type of olive I have only recently started to notice in the grocery stores, and lucky for us the guys over at Mezzetta have been nice enough to bring this awesome little olive to your standard US supermarket (I bought mine at Walmart).
The guys over at Mezzetta are into the holiday spirit this time of year and running a Sweepstakes where the grand prize winner gets a print digital camera and olive lover’s gift basket, while 10 runner ups will receive an olive lover’s gift basket. You have until Dec 31 to enter so get going!!
Or if giveaways aren’t your thing, get yourself over to a store stat so you can get yourself a jar of olives and start cooking. If you can’t tear yourself away from just gobbling up these olives straight from the jar I wouldn’t blame you.
If you want to start incorporating these olives into your daily routine, start with this hearts of palm salad. Only seven ingredients are required for this recipe – we’ve got cooked quinoa, sliced hearts of palm, chopped olives, lettuce, cilantro, lime zest and juice and olive oil.
This hearts of palm salad with quinoa and olives makes for the perfect one pot weeknight meatless meal. Refreshing, light, and hearty. The olives blend perfectly with the tender hearts of palm and fluffy quinoa.
The ultimate feel good meal, necessary around the holidays to break up all the indulgent feasting!
WHat do you think? Have you ever made a hearts of palm salad before?
Hearts of palm salad with olives and quinoa makes for the perfect light and refreshing meatless meal. Made with only seven ingredients and ready within minutes. This is the light holiday meal you've been looking for. Gluten Free too
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 1 cup Mezzetta Castelvetrano olives
- 1 15 ounce can heart of palm drained and thinly sliced
- 1 head lettuce
- 1 lime zested
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- handful cilantro chopped
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Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Add salt to taste.
Karly says
This salad looks so refreshing and delicious! Perfect to balance out all those crazy decadent holiday dinners! Yum!
Vicky says
Thanks Karly! My thoughts exactly : )
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons says
I haven’t had heart of palm in SO LONG! Must change that – love this healthy salad! 🙂
Vicky says
You really need to get your hands on some! It’s the best!
Noel says
What a pretty salad! I love olives as an appetizer with a glass of wine…will have to get my hands on this variety and try it out.
Vicky says
Yes with a glass of wine olives go quick! You have got to try the castelvetrano ones – they’re the best!
Cristie | Little Big H says
I love this recipe and I have everything in my fridge and cupboard to make it (except the olives) which never happens. I buying olives tomorrow and making this asap.
Vicky says
Hope you got your hands on some olives and enjoy the recipe!
Shadi says
I love olives so much and this looks so delicious and healthy! 🙂
Vicky says
Thanks! I love olives too – any and all kinds!
Bianca says
Mmmm!!! This all sounds way to delicious to not try, thanks for sharing with us!
Vicky says
Thanks!
Matt @ Plating Pixels says
I’m hooked on the Mezzetta garlic stuffed queen olives. I bet this is wonderful!
Vicky says
Oooo I haven’t tried those yet – will keep an eye out for them in the store!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Heart of palm is such a delicious but sadly underutilized ingredient. This salad sounds awesome and castelvetrano olives are terrific!
Vicky says
Yes it really is so underutilized in the US – absolutely love it though. Castelvetranos are the best right?!
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats says
I love all kinds of olives, and this salad with the hearts of palm sounds great!
Vicky says
Thanks! Olives are the best!
Hil says
Yum! I love quinoa salads! Haven’t done anything like this though.
I would love it if you came to link up at our party:
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Vicky says
Thanks for stopping by. Just submitted to the link up party too!
Brandon @ Kitchen Konfidence says
Castelvetrano olives ARE magical! One of my favorites 🙂 They’re a perfect addition to this vibrant salad.
Vicky says
They’re the best right?!
Molly Kumar says
This bowl looks so hearty n colorful – I can eat 2 of these 🙂
Vicky says
Haha thanks! Coming right up!
Amanda says
Yum! This sure beats holiday sweets. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Vicky says
My thoughts exactly : )