This healthy black bean quinoa salad with corn goes together quickly and easily. A combination of bell pepper, onion, cucumber, and tomato, kicked up with chili powder, cayenne pepper, and lime juice lends this healthy quinoa salad a true southwestern flavor.
Serve it as a vegetarian meal or a tasty side packed with protein and plenty of nutrition. Make the quinoa ahead of time for a quick and easy meal in 30 minutes.
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Healthy Quinoa Salad Recipes
Quinoa is an incredibly versatile ingredient that can add flavor, nutrition, and texture to just about any salad. This gluten-free grain is packed with protein, fiber, and antioxidants, and is a great way to add variety to any meal.
Quinoa salads are easy to make ahead of time and hearty enough to eat as a light lunch or mix with other vegetables as a nutritious side for dinner. Recipes such as Mediterranean Quinoa Salad, Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Salad, and Quinoa Broccoli Salad are some of my favorites.
Why You'll Love This Black Bean Quinoa Salad Recipe
You'll love making this southwestern black bean quinoa salad! It is easy to make and both filling and delicious. There's no dressing to make - just sprinkle on some spices, drizzle fresh lime juice on top, and toss it together.
If you are trying to eat healthier, this salad gives you over 6 grams of protein and 33% of your vegetables for the day.
And more good news! The chili powder and cayenne pepper both contain capsaicin which has anti-cancer and antibacterial properties, helps reduce LDL cholesterol, can suppress appetite, and aid in burning calories - all with just ½ teaspoon with a meal. For all of you that love spicy food, like me, this is great news!
For people searching for other ways to get their protein, using grains like quinoa instead of fattier meats is a step in the right direction.
Eating quinoa at least once a week for lunch or dinner instead of relying on meats is a great way to fit in a meatless meal. It really is a gem of a grain!
You can serve the salad with tortillas or leaf lettuce to make vegetarian wraps.
This salad can also be used as a healthy side with grilled dishes such as Skirt Steak with Chimichurri Sauce and Tequila Lime Chicken Tacos. It's also great for picnics, potlucks, and cookouts.
Ingredients
- Quinoa
- Canned black beans
- Corn kernels
- Onion
- Red, yellow, or orange bell pepper
- Tomatoes - regular or grape tomatoes
- Cucumber
- Fresh cilantro
- Chili powder
- Cayenne pepper
- Lime juice (freshly squeezed is best)
- Salt & pepper
Meal Prep and Make Ahead
To make weeknight dinners easier, I like to cook up a batch of quinoa at the beginning of the week. It can be used in a variety of ways and it is much quicker to throw together a meal if it is already cooked.
I also like to chop up onions and peppers and store them in the refrigerator to make life a little easier. These same chopped-up veggies can be used for a super quick, healthy scrambled egg breakfast in the AM too.
How to Make Black Bean Quinoa Salad
- Place all chopped vegetables, drained corn kernels, and rinsed black beans in a large bowl.
- Sprinkle the vegetable mixture with chili powder and cayenne pepper.
- Stir to combine.
- Add the cooled cooked quinoa.
- Mix well.
- Sprinkle with lime juice.
- Add salt and pepper to taste and stir again.
- Place the quinoa black bean corn salad in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes. This will help the quinoa and vegetables to absorb the flavors and enhance the overall taste of the salad.
Recipe Variations
- Avocado - Stir in 1 chopped avocado just before serving.
- Mango - Stir in 1 chopped mango just before serving for a fruity touch.
- Jalapeno Pepper - Add 1 seeded and chopped jalapeno pepper for an extra kick of heat.
- Meat - top it with grilled chicken or shredded pork (barbacoa or carnitas would be awesome with it).
- Parsley - Use it instead of cilantro
- Spices - Add ½ teaspoon of cumin or swap out all the spices for the same amount of taco seasoning mix.
How to Store Quinoa Salad
Store the freshly prepared or leftover quinoa salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Freezing is not recommended because the fresh tomatoes and cucumber would get mushy after being frozen and thawed. If you want to freeze it, then make the salad without the tomatoes and cucumber. Freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight then add the fresh tomatoes and cucumber.
More Salad Recipes
- Chicken Walnut Salad
- Hard Boiled Eggs Salad
- Roasted Corn Salad
- Sour Cream Potato Salad
- Watermelon Cucumber Mint Salad
Find even more healthy salad recipes here on 2CM!
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Black Bean Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked quinoa
- 1 can corn kernels drained
- 1 can black beans drained & rinsed
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 1 cup chopped bell pepper red, yellow, or orange
- 1 cup chopped tomatoes
- 1 cucumber chopped
- 3 Tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 1-2 teaspoons chili powder to taste
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 4 Tablespoons lime juice
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook quinoa following the package directions. 1 cup uncooked quinoa equals 3 cups cooked.
- In a large bowl, combine the corn, black beans, onion, peppers, tomatoes, cucumber, cilantro, chili powder, and cayenne pepper. Stir.
- Add cooled cooked quinoa and mix well.
- Toss with lime juice and salt and pepper to taste.
- Let rest in refrigerator for 30 minutes or more to give the flavors time to combine.
Notes
Nutrition
This post has been updated with new photos and step-by-step directions. It was first published on January 11, 2015.
