Quinoa Black Bean Salad Recipe | Quinoa Black Bean Salad With Cilantro Lime Dressing

I am eagerly waiting for the Kids Winter Break that is starting from this Friday. I have scheduled each day an assignment with my kids along with their reading and kumon work. Wanted to enjoy this winter break usefully and creatively with my kids. Both my boys are also waiting for the school break, they wanna bake and cook with me. Little one has bookmarked few cookies from the Taste of Home cookies book and wanted to bake it for Christmas. Also, I bought some surprise toys (board games) and gifts for them. Hope everything will go as our plan.

Now coming to the recipe, Quinoa Black Bean Salad / Quinoa Salad. This is a salad cum meal recipe. You can have this salad alone for lunch or dinner meal, since it is loaded with beans, carrot, onions, spices, lime dressing and almonds for crunch. What else you need for a healthy, filling and delicious meal more than this. You can also make this Salad as a side along with grilled chicken breast or fish. A wholesome dish to enjoy anytime of the day. If you are a fan for Chipotle's Cilantro Lime Rice Bowl, then you will love this salad too. Here, I used Quinoa but you can use any millet, Brown Rice, Whole grain Pasta for a carb susbtitute in the salad.

Quinoa Black Bean Salad Recipe

Prep Time : 10 minutes + 20 minutes Resting Time

Cook Time : 5-6 minutes | Recipe Category : Salads/Side Dish

Serves Makes 2 cups

Ingredients

1. Quinoa  1/2 cup
2. Water  1 and 1/4 cup
3. Salt   to taste

For Dressing

1. Olive Oil   1 and 1/2 tbsp
2. Lime Juice   from 1/2 lime
3. Cumin Powder   1/2 tsp(freshly ground cumin is best)
4. Salt & Pepper   to taste
5. Cilantro  1/4 cup (finely chopped)

Other Ingredients

1. Black Beans  3/4 cup (i used homecooked black beans)
2. Carrot  1 no.(diced or sliced or cut into strips)
3. Boiled or grilled Corn kernels  1/2 cup
4. Red onion   1/2 medium(finely chopped or diced)
5. Toasted Almonds   1/4 cup

Method

• First in a sauce pan, add water and bring it to boil.
• Wash quinoa using a strainer and drain excess water well, once the water starts boiling add quinoa and salt.
• Cook in medium heat until quinoa is cooked.
• Once done transfer the cooked quinoa to a serving bowl, fluff and allow to cool.
• Mean while prepare dressing by mixing all the ingredients for dressing in a small bowl and stir well.
• Now to the quinoa, add all other ingredients except almonds, combine well and now pour the dressing over it and stir well.
• Then cover the serving bowl with plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes.
• And serve this delicious salad at room temperature. Just before serving add toasted almonds to the salad and toss well and serve.

Notes:
You can also add lime zest to dressing for extra citrus punch.
You can also add some grilled or roasted and diced red bell pepper.