Quinoa Black Bean Salad is a perfect side dish for a crowd and an easy make ahead salad to enjoy all week long. Lightly balanced with flavorful cumin, lime, and cilantro, you can enjoy this fluffy salad easily as a no meat Monday main dish as well.
High in protein, this black bean quinoa salad with delicious red cherry tomatoes is a great way to get your fiber and serve up a beautiful, tasty, and delectable quinoa salad.
Mouthwatering and flavorful, this basic quinoa salad side dish can be altered to have a Mexican or Southwest spin but is perfectly lovely and light on its own. Enjoy the zesty lime and cumin seasoning that is not overpowered and really lets the quinoa shine through.
Quinoa Salad Ingredients
The beautiful tri-colored quinoa used makes for a gorgeous display but its also quick to make and can serve a ton. Also a great dish and a true superfood for a large crowd or picnic, make quinoa ahead of time and pull together a fresh salad day of. And if this is your first time cooking quinoa, no worries, its really easy!
Here are the ingredients to whip together an easy warm side salad (also serves cold just fine!). Once verifying all ingredients are on hanf with this list, scroll down to watch recipe or video or head to the printable recipe instructions to get started!
- quinoa, dry
- live oil
- 2 limes
- ground cumin
- salt
- red pepper flakes
- cherry tomatoes
- 1 can black beans
- green onions
- fresh cilantro
- salt and ground black pepper
Black Bean Salad with Quinoa Recipe
Bring dry quinoa and water to a boil in a saucepan.
Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until quinoa is tender and water has been absorbed, which takes about 15 minutes.
Once quinoa is light and fluffy, set aside to cool and move to next step.
In a small bowl, whisk olive oil, fresh lime juice, cumin, salt, and red pepper flakes together.
In a separate bowl, combine cooled quinoa, cherry tomatoes, drained and rinsed black beans, and sliced green onions.
Pour homemade dressing over quinoa mixture; toss lightly to coat.
Stir in fresh cilantro leaves; season entire black bean quinoa salad with salt and pepper.
Serve salad immediately (may be slightly warm) or chill in refrigerator. This salad can be served hot or warm, making it a great side dish for all occasions.
This quinoa recipe can be made in 20 minutes and also makes quite a bit. Id say it serves at least 8 and more if its just a side dish. 6-8 if this salad is being served as a main dish.
Add in a salad wrap and top with proteins like chicken for a super delicious lunch. Quinoa is a common ingredient in a “power bowl.”
Quinoa salad (as is) has no dairy and is a vegetarian and vegan friendly recipe option.
Yes! Make the quinoa the day before (that’s what I did) and pull together for a full fresh salad the day you plan to serve.
Add chunks of diced red and green bell peppers, jalapenos for spice, or soft pieces of ripe avocado for a change up in flavors. To make more of a Mediterranean spin, add feta cheese and a cucumber. For more of a Greek quinoa salad, add Kalamata olives, feta and red onions. Worth noting is that there are a lot of olive types. You can try mixing up kinds of olive flavors which would go great in this type of side dish.
Can Quinoa help you lose weight?
Quinoa has no specific rules that help you lose weight but is high in fiber, quite filling, and perfect recipe choice for a balanced and healthy variety diet.
Other benefits of quinoa in your diet include:
- Lower carbs than white rice
- High quality protein (considered a super food)
- Gluten Free
- Whole Grain
- Fluffy and light flavor (Similar to CousCous Salad)
Quinoa Black Bean Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa dry
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 limes juiced
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or more to taste (optional)
- 1 1/2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
- 1 15 ounce can black beans drained and rinsed
- 5 green onions finely chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- salt and ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring dry box of quinoa and water to a boil in a saucepan.
- Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until quinoa is tender and water has been absorbed, about 15 minutes.
- Set fluffy quinoa aside to cool.
- In a small bowl, whisk olive oil, fresh lime juice, cumin, salt, and red pepper flakes together in a bowl.
- In a separate bowl, combine already made quinoa, haled cherry tomatoes, drained and rinsed black beans, and sliced green onions.
- Pour homemade lime dressing over quinoa mixture; toss all ingredients together to coat.
- Stir in fresh cilantro; season salad with salt and pepper.
- Serve Quinoa Salad immediately or chill in refrigerator, covered, for up to 3 days.
Video
Nutritional information is an automated estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator or app.
Nutrition
Sharing of this recipe is encouraged and appreciated. Copying of full recipe to any social media is prohibited.
Comments & Reviews
Amy Boudreaux says
My family loves this dish. I’m not a fan of tomatoes, so I substitute red bell peppers for the same color. I use cayenne pepper in place of the pepper flakes. I also add Cotija cheese. My husband and son rave over this dish! It’s in regular rotation on the menu.
L stansfield says
I liked it. Part of a healthy diet.