Quinoa Black Bean Salad (Printable)

Protein-rich quinoa combined with black beans, fresh veggies and a zesty lime dressing for a refreshing meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa, uncooked and rinsed

→ Legumes

02 - 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 small cucumber, diced
06 - 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
07 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
08 - 1 avocado, diced

→ Dressing

09 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
10 - Juice of 2 limes
11 - 1 clove garlic, minced
12 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
13 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
14 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Combine quinoa and 2 cups water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes until water is absorbed. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, and allow to cool to room temperature.
02 - Whisk together olive oil, lime juice, minced garlic, ground cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until well combined.
03 - In a large bowl, mix the cooled quinoa, black beans, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, cucumber, red onion, and cilantro.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to evenly coat all ingredients.
05 - Fold diced avocado into the salad just before serving to maintain freshness. Adjust seasoning as needed and serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge for a few hours, making it a meal-prep dream.
  • The lime dressing is bright enough that you'll never miss creamy store-bought versions, and it takes about two minutes to make.
  • You can build it on Sunday and grab it all week, feeling genuinely proud of yourself for eating something this nourishing.
02 -
  • If you add the avocado too early, it will brown even in the fridge, turning an unappetizing dark color within a few hours, so resist the urge to add it all at once.
  • The salad actually tastes better the next day after the flavors have melded together, making it perfect for meal prep if you skip the avocado until serving time.
  • Rinsing the canned beans properly makes a noticeable difference in the final taste—don't skip this step even though it feels unnecessary.
03 -
  • If your limes are hard and unwilling to give up their juice, microwave them for 20 seconds first—it makes them soften and release juice far more easily.
  • Taste the olive oil by itself before adding it to the dressing; a high-quality, peppery oil can transform the entire salad into something more complex and delicious.
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