Description
A bright, fresh, and healthy quinoa salad featuring sweet mango, black beans, and a zesty lime-cumin dressing. It is a quick, budget-friendly meal perfect for lunch, meal prep, or side dishes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup dry quinoa (white or red)
- 2 cups water or vegetable broth
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup corn (canned, frozen/thawed, or fresh)
- 1 large ripe mango, peeled and diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2–3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse 1 cup of quinoa thoroughly under cold water in a fine-mesh colander to remove bitter saponin.
- In a medium saucepan, combine rinsed quinoa and 2 cups of water or vegetable broth. Bring to a boil over high heat.
- Reduce heat to low, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for another 5 minutes to steam. Fluff with a fork.
- While quinoa cooks, peel and dice the mango, finely dice the red onion, and chop the cilantro.
- Drain and rinse the black beans. If using frozen corn, thaw it under warm water.
- In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked quinoa, black beans, corn, mango, red onion, and cilantro.
- Pour the dressing over the mixture and gently toss to combine, being careful not to mash the fruit or beans.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld, then serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
Rinsing the quinoa is essential to remove bitterness. For best texture, ensure ingredients are at room temperature before mixing. The salad tastes better after chilling for 30 minutes. Do not freeze this salad as the fresh ingredients will become mushy. It keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 10
- Protein: 12
Keywords: quinoa salad, mango salad, healthy lunch, meal prep, vegan recipe, gluten-free, pantry staples, black bean salad, lime dressing