Refreshing Quinoa Black Bean Salad (Printable)

A fresh blend of quinoa, black beans, veggies, and lime dressing offering a light, nutritious dish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 2 cups water

→ Beans

03 - 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1 small cucumber, diced
07 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
08 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
09 - 1 avocado, diced

→ Dressing

10 - 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
11 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
12 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
13 - 1 clove garlic, minced
14 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
15 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
16 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add rinsed quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is tender. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, and allow to cool to room temperature.
02 - In a large bowl, mix the cooled quinoa, black beans, diced bell pepper, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, finely chopped red onion, and chopped cilantro.
03 - Whisk together fresh lime juice, olive oil, honey or maple syrup, minced garlic, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
05 - Gently fold in the diced avocado just before serving to maintain its texture and color.
06 - Taste the salad, adjust seasoning as needed, and serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It tastes fresh even after sitting in the fridge for two days, which makes it perfect for meal prep or last-minute lunches.
  • The textures are satisfying—fluffy quinoa, creamy avocado, crunchy peppers—so every bite feels different.
  • You can dress it up or down depending on what you have, and it never feels like youre eating the same thing twice.
02 -
  • Let the quinoa cool completely before mixing or the heat will wilt the vegetables and turn the avocado into guacamole.
  • If you dress the salad too early, it will get soggy, so toss it right before eating or pack the dressing separately if you're taking it to go.
03 -
  • Toast the quinoa in a dry pan for a minute before cooking it to bring out a nutty flavor that makes the whole salad taste richer.
  • Add a pinch of chili flakes to the dressing if you want a little heat, it wakes everything up without overpowering the lime.
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