Name: Quinoa Black Bean Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice (usually one lime); 2 Tbsp butter (melted and cooled); 1 Tbsp olive oil; 1 tsp sugar; ½ tsp salt; ¼ tsp pepper; 1 tsp garlic (minced); 1 cup quinoa; 2 cup water; 1 cup black beans (rinsed); 1 cup corn (drained); 2 tomatoes (diced); 4 green onions (diced); 1 cucumber (diced); ¼ cup cilantro (chopped); ½ red pepper (diced)

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Quinoa Black Bean Salad is delicious and good for you! if you have never tried quinoa before this is a great recipe to start with.

Quinoa is a nice change from rice or potatoes and can be enjoyed so many different ways. Some of our favorites are BBQ Chicken Quinoa Salad and Cranberry and Cilantro Quinoa Salad. It works as a side dish or as a main dish.

Several years ago, one of my daughter’s was diagnosed with multiple food allergies. We discovered that she was allergic to wheat, dairy, red meat and a large selection of raw fruits and vegetables (oral allergy syndrome)

I spent several years learning about a whole world I didn’t know existed, the world of gluten free, dairy free, vegan etc.

I made it my job to discover new and hopefully delicious recipes that she can eat and enjoy. Sometimes I have been successful, sometimes I haven’t. One of the favorites things I came up with was this wonderful gluten free flour mix which I shared on my blog recently.One of the challenges with my daughter’s diet is getting enough protein in her. She can eat chicken but but she really doesn’t enjoy meat. One of the foods we discovered in this new food journey is quinoa.

What is Quinoa?

Quinoa has been around for centuries and is actually a seed, not a grain as many people think. It is considered a complete protein and is also a good source of fiber and high in magnesium and iron.

I began cooking with quinoa and we have found it to be delicious and a wonderful “go to” food for my daughter. You make up a big batch, add in different vegetables and seasonings and create an amazing meal. It can be eaten warm or cold.

How to Make Quinoa

You cook it just like rice, in a pot with boiling water. It cooks quickly in about 15-20 minutes and then all you have to do is fluff it with a fork. You can also make it in your Instant Pot. On the stove, I use a ratio of 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups water.

How to Make Quinoa Black Bean Salad

After making the quinoa, I add in a mixture of fresh lime juice, butter, olive oil, sugar and garlic.

Next comes the fun part. You can basically add in any veggie you like. There are several vegetables my daughter can’t eat in the raw form (carrots, snap peas) so I avoid those but our favorites are black beans, tomatoes, corn, cucumber, green onion, tomato, cilantro and red pepper.

You can eat it warm, room temperature and cold. It is the perfect choice for a potluck or a BBQ as the salad can sit at room temperature.

For some of my other favorite side dishes try these:

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
Caramelized Brussels Sprouts
Green Chile RiceFor all of my other favorite kitchen products and tools visit my Amazon Store. Did you know I wrote a cookbook? Check out the Holiday Slow Cooker Cookbook for 100 delicious recipes