Our quinoa black bean salad is hearty and scrumptious, due to its colourful veggies and vibrant and zesty dressing. It’s naturally vegan, tremendous easy, and lasts for days within the fridge!
I’m all the time so glad when this simple quinoa black bean salad is in our fridge. It’s hearty, full of plant protein (7g per cup), and tastes superb. I like it served all by itself or with a bit extra protein (my favorites are this simple baked tofu or these roasted shrimp).
In case you are on the lookout for extra methods to mix quinoa and beans, do this vegetarian chili or this superfood quinoa salad (it’s full of veggies, chickpeas, and dried fruit).
Key Components
- Quinoa: I cook dinner it from scratch (it takes 10 to fifteen minutes). My primary tip for completely cooked quinoa is to rinse it totally underneath chilly water earlier than cooking. This removes the pure coating of saponins, which might make the quinoa style bitter. For extra ideas, see the best way to cook dinner quinoa.
- Black Beans: You should utilize canned or home-cooked beans on this recipe. If you wish to cook dinner them from scratch, right here’s our tried-and-true black beans recipe.
- Veggies: I really like the colourful colours and textures that recent greens carry to this salad. My go-to mixture contains juicy tomatoes, crisp crimson onion, colourful bell peppers, candy cherry tomatoes, crunchy crimson cabbage, and corn (when it’s in season). I additionally like so as to add a can of diced inexperienced chiles for an additional kick, which supplies the salad a scrumptious Southwestern aptitude. Hatch inexperienced chiles are my private favourite.
- Dressing: The dressing I take advantage of for this black bean and quinoa salad is one in all my favorites, particularly for grain and bean salads. It begins with a easy apple cider vinegar and freshly squeezed lime juice. You should utilize both, however combining each creates probably the most well-rounded and balanced taste profile. Subsequent, I add some heat and depth with cumin and chili powder (I extremely advocate utilizing a do-it-yourself chili powder in case you have it). To complete it off, I whisk in a beneficiant quantity of olive oil and season to style with salt and pepper.
Methods to Make Quinoa Black Bean Salad
This quinoa and bean salad is tremendous easy to place collectively. I make my dressing within the backside of an enormous bowl after which toss in the remainder of the salad substances (quinoa, beans, and veggies).
This salad is ideal eaten proper after making it, or you’ll be able to retailer it within the fridge for as much as 5 days! Due to this, it’s an supreme make-ahead dish. I really like holding it within the fridge for a simple lunch or dinner all through the week.
Due to 7 grams of protein and over 5 grams of fiber, it has loads of sticking energy. You may add some further protein with crumbled feta cheese, grilled hen, juicy pork chops, pan-fried halloumi cheese, baked tofu, or perhaps a few of those simple hen nuggets (belief me!).
Straightforward Quinoa Black Bean Salad
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PREP
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COOK
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TOTAL
Our quinoa black bean salad is hearty and scrumptious, due to its colourful veggies and vibrant and zesty dressing. Serve it alone or with a bit of additional protein on high. I really like baked tofu or roasted shrimp!
Makes 8 cups
You Will Want
For Salad
1 cup (190g) raw quinoa, rinsed (about 3 cups cooked)
2 cups water or broth, see our hen broth or veggie broth
1 (15oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed, or 1 ½ cups cooked black beans
1/2 cup finely chopped crimson onion (half small onion)
1 crimson bell pepper, finely chopped
1 cup (150g) cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup (100g) finely chopped crimson cabbage
2 medium ears corn, kernels minimize off the cobs, 1 cup
1 (4oz) can Hatch inexperienced chili peppers, chopped
Non-obligatory: chopped avocado, crumbled feta, or queso fresco
For Dressing
3 tablespoons (44ml) apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons (30ml) recent lime juice
1/2 teaspoon ancho chili powder
1/2 teaspoon floor cumin
1/3 cup (78g) further virgin olive oil
Salt and recent floor black pepper
Instructions
1Mix the rinsed quinoa, water, and 1/4 teaspoon sea salt in a medium saucepan over medium-high warmth. Carry to a boil, then cut back to a low simmer and cook dinner uncovered till the quinoa absorbs the liquid for 10 to fifteen minutes.
2Transfer the saucepan off of the warmth and canopy for five minutes. This further time permits the quinoa to steam and “fluff up.”
3Uncover, after which fluff the quinoa with a fork.
4In a big bowl, whisk the apple cider vinegar, lime juice, 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt, chili powder, cumin, and a pinch of black pepper collectively. Slowly add the olive oil, whisking till blended.
5Add the quinoa, black beans, crimson onion, bell peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, corn, and chili peppers. Toss to mix, after which season to style with extra salt and pepper as wanted.
6Retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3 to 4 days. If the salad appears a bit of dry after a day or two, add an additional squeeze of lime juice and a slight drizzle of olive oil.
Adam and Joanne’s Suggestions
- Storing: This quinoa black bean salad lasts in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days. Over time, the colour from the crimson cabbage seeps out into the salad (it appears fairly fairly).
- Canned inexperienced chili peppers: These are sometimes offered subsequent to salsas in most grocery shops. There are a number of manufacturers, together with Ortega, Previous El Paso, and Hatch. Once we can discover it, we love the Hatch model.
- The vitamin details supplied under are estimates.
Diet Per Serving
Serving Measurement
1 cup
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Energy
235
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Complete Fats
11.5g
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Saturated Fats
1.7g
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Ldl cholesterol
0mg
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Sodium
234.3mg
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Carbohydrate
28.3g
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Dietary Fiber
5.6g
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Complete Sugars
3g
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Protein
7.1g
Earlier Submit: Our Favourite Marinara Sauce
