Mexican Quinoa Salad – Slender Kitchen

I’m consistently making batches of hearty grain salads to have for fast and simple wholesome lunches and dinners. This Mexican Quinoa Salad with protein-packed quinoa, black beans, corn, and a creamy citrus avocado dressing is on the high of the record. 

My favourite a part of this recipe is the dressing, which is creamy from the avocado, barely spicy from the ancho chili powder, and candy sufficient from the orange juice and honey. Then paired with the hearty quinoa, earthy black beans, and candy summer time corn – it makes one scrumptious salad.

When I’m actually hungry, I add some grilled chicken, blackened steak, or Cajun shrimp to the combination for additional protein.

Love quinoa salads? Do not miss this Honey Lime Kale and Quinoa Salad and Southwestern Sweet Potato and Quinoa Salad.

Useful Suggestions:

Listed below are a couple of key issues to bear in mind when making this recipe:

• Extra extras: That is a kind of salads which you can customise! Add no matter toppings you prefer to make it your personal. That is particularly nice with some added protein.
• Heat it up: If you wish to make a heat model of this salad, merely warmth up the quinoa and black beans. Then mix with the greens and dressing. Serve instantly because the heat grains will trigger the greens to wilt.
• Pre-cook the quinoa: You’ll be able to prep the quinoa forward of time and preserve it within the fridge or freezer till you are prepared to make use of it! Or seize some frozen, precooked quinoa to hurry issues up!

Key Elements

This hearty salad is filled with wholesome, immune-boosting components. Many of those components could already be stocked in your pantry however can even simply be discovered at your native grocery retailer.

• Quinoa: Use pre-cooked or common quinoa—each are nice choices. You too can use my Mexican quinoa recipe, which already has black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, and taco seasoning!
• Black Beans: Canned beans are fast, however dried beans work, too, when you’ve got the time.
• Avocado: You’ll want to use a ripe avocado for one of the best texture. In the event you aren’t a fan of avocado, swap in Greek yogurt, bitter cream, additional olive oil, or mayo to make an avocado-free creamy dressing.
• Corn: Provides sweetness and crunch. I roasted my corn for a smoky taste, however you need to use common canned corn or frozen corn.
• Orange: Offers a candy, tangy pop that brightens the salad. Recent or bottled orange juice works nicely!
• Cilantro: Brings a contemporary, herby style that actually wakes up the salad. Recent cilantro is essential for the appropriate taste, or swap in basil if cilantro is not your favourite. 
• Honey: Provides sweetness to the cilantro dressing. Swap it with agave or maple syrup to make it vegan!
• Lime Juice: Provides a zesty, tangy kick that brings all of the flavors collectively. Recent lime juice is at all times finest.

Make Mexican Quinoa Salad

First, you may wish to whip up the dressing by mixing collectively some avocado, lime juice, orange juice, honey, and spices. If it is slightly thick, simply add a little bit of water till it is clean and pourable.

Subsequent, toss the combined greens, quinoa, black beans, corn, orange segments, and the remainder of the avocado collectively in an enormous bowl.

Pour your dressing over every thing and provides it a great toss to mix. Lastly, serve it up and revel in! You’ll be able to even let it chill for a bit if you’d like it chilly.

Prepare dinner Quinoa (Stovetop, Prompt Pot, and Gradual Cooker)

Stovetop Methodology

To prepare dinner quinoa on the stovetop, rinse it nicely beneath chilly water to take away any bitter coating. Then, mix the quinoa with water (or broth for additional taste) in a pot, utilizing about two elements liquid to 1 half quinoa. Deliver it to a boil, then scale back the warmth to low, cowl, and simmer for about quarter-hour or till the liquid is absorbed. Let it sit, coated, for a couple of minutes, then fluff it with a fork, and it is able to go!

Prompt Pot Methodology

For the Prompt Pot, rinse the quinoa first. Then, mix one half quinoa with one half water (or broth) within the pot. Seal the lid, set the Prompt Pot to excessive strain, and prepare dinner for about one minute. Let it naturally launch for about 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork and serve. It is fast and simple!

Gradual Cooker Methodology

To prepare dinner quinoa within the sluggish cooker, add rinsed quinoa and water (or broth) to the cooker, utilizing the identical ratio of about two elements liquid to 1 half quinoa. Cowl and prepare dinner on low for about 2-3 hours or till the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa is tender. Give it a great fluff earlier than serving, and also you’re performed!

Change It Up

There are such a lot of methods to customise this Mexican-inspired quinoa salad.

• Add protein: This recipe already comprises a bunch of nice plant-based protein. Shredded chicken tinga, slow cooker salsa verde beef, carnitas, shrimp, tofu, hard-boiled eggs, and salmon are all potential additions to this salad for added dietary worth.
• Beans: You need to use pinto beans as an alternative of black beans when you like!
• Spicy kick: Add some chopped jalapeno or a touch of cayenne pepper to the dressing for a bit of warmth.
• Lime juice: Be happy to swap the lime juice for lemon juice if that is all you have got!
• Swap up your toppings: Add bell peppers, queso fresco, cherry or grape tomatoes, pickled red onions, feta cheese or cotija cheese, inexperienced onions, cabbage, radishes, or cucumbers to vary up the flavour. Add some pepitas or nuts for crunch.
• Make it sweeter: Add honey or agave for some added sweetness to the dressing.
• Add greens: Use any leafy greens you want, reminiscent of arugula, kale, spinach, or romaine lettuce.
• Quinoa: In case you are brief on time, be happy to make use of frozen quinoa as a substitute for freshly cooked. After cooking the quinoa, let it cool earlier than including it to the salad. Cooked quinoa can even final within the freezer for as much as eight months in an hermetic container. Put together some prematurely to maintain readily available to whip up quinoa-based salads rapidly and simply sooner or later.