Easy Quinoa Salad Recipe
This Easy Quinoa Salad is a vibrant and nutritious dish featuring fluffy quinoa combined with fresh cherry tomatoes, black beans, and a zesty lime-cumin dressing. Perfect as a light lunch or a side dish, it’s packed with protein and fiber, making it both delicious and satisfying.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup quinoa
- 1 ½ cups halved cherry tomatoes
- 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 5 green onions, finely chopped
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Dressing
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 limes, juiced
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, or more to taste
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Quinoa: Rinse the quinoa under cold water to remove its natural bitterness. In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed quinoa and 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes or until the quinoa is tender and the water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let it sit covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, lime juice, ground cumin, salt, and red pepper flakes. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and black pepper to taste.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the halved cherry tomatoes, drained black beans, chopped green onions, and chopped fresh cilantro. Add the cooked and cooled quinoa to the bowl.
- Toss the Salad: Pour the dressing over the quinoa and vegetable mixture. Gently toss everything together until all ingredients are well coated with the dressing.
- Chill and Serve: For best flavor, refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
- Rinse quinoa thoroughly to remove its natural bitterness before cooking.
- Adjust red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level.
- Can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Add avocado or feta cheese for extra creaminess and flavor.
- Perfect as a gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan-friendly dish.
Keywords: quinoa salad, gluten free, vegan salad, healthy salad, black beans, cherry tomatoes, lime salad, easy quinoa recipe
Find it online: https://mjrecipe.com/easy-quinoa-salad-recipe/