Southwest Quinoa Salad
This easy Southwest quinoa salad is a mix of nutritious quinoa, flavorful black beans, sweet corn, and fresh tomatoes. Drizzle over some homemade creamy avocado dressing and dig in!
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
For The Salad
- 2 cups water or chicken broth
- 1 cup quinoa rinsed
- 1 can (15 ounces) corn drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans drained and rinsed
- 2 fresh tomatoes diced
For The Creamy Avocado Dressing
- ½ avocado, peeled and pit removed
- ½ cup plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice or lime juice
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
- chopped fresh green onions for garnish
- chopped fresh parsley or cilantro for garnish
- thinly sliced avocado for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the quinoa. Prepare the quinoa by bringing 2 cups of water to a boil. Add 1 cup quinoa, stir, reduce heat to a simmer, and cover. Cook for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let it sit, covered, for 10 more minutes. Fluff with a fork.
- Make the dressing. Meanwhile, combine avocado, yogurt, lemon juice, soy sauce, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a blender and blend until smooth. Taste the dressing and adjust it to your liking.
- Assemble the salad. Arrange the quinoa on a large plate and top it with black beans, corn, and tomatoes. Toss the quinoa salad with the dressing, or serve the salad with the dressing on the side.
- Serve. Garnish the salad with chopped green onions, cilantro, and sliced avocado before serving.
Notes
- Rinse Quinoa: Before cooking, rinse quinoa under cold water in a fine mesh strainer to remove the coating.
- Cool Before Mixing: Let the quinoa cool for a bit before adding it to the salad. This prevents it from becoming mushy and allows it to absorb the dressing better.
- Include Textures: Quinoa salad is versatile, so feel free to experiment with your favorite ingredients and dressings. You can add chopped bell peppers, chickpeas, diced cucumbers, cubed chicken, etc.
- Serving: This salad can be served as a starter or a light lunch.
- Make Ahead: Quinoa can be made ahead of time, making it perfect for meal prep.
Nutrition
Calories: 290kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 111mg | Potassium: 554mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 580IU | Vitamin C: 12.4mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 2.3mg
