This southwestern quinoa salad is gluten-free, oil-free, and packed with veggies. It's served with a cilantro lime dressing, and great cold or at room temperature.
Course Appetizer, Salad
Keyword Southwestern Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
1c. uncooked quinoa
1/4of a small red onion, finely chopped
1/2c. cooked corn kernels
1/2c. chopped pineapple or mango
2green onions, green parts only, thinly sliced
1bell pepper(any color), chopped
1.5to 2 c. cooked black beans(or 1 can, thoroughly rinsed)
For the cilantro-lime dressing:
1/3c. cooked white beans
1tb. tahini
Juice of 1 lime
1roasted green bell pepper, peeled and seeded (see notes on how to dry-roast a bell pepper)
1/2of a roasted small jalapeno, peeled and seeded (optional) (see notes)
1tb. 100% orange juice, plus more to taste (for sweetness/consistency)
salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
Prepare the cilantro-lime dressing:
Combine the white beans, tahini, and lime juice in a blender or food processor until completely smooth.
Add the bell pepper, jalapeno if using, cilantro, nutritional yeast if using, spices, and orange juice, and blend until completely smooth.
Add more orange juice as desired, and season to taste.
Prepare the southwestern quinoa salad:
Cook the quinoa according to package directions; or, add 2 cups of water to it in a small saucepan, bring to a boil, and reduce to a simmer. Stir occasionally and cook until fluffy and soft.
Mix together the quinoa in a bowl with the red onion, corn, pineapple or mango, green onion, bell pepper, and black beans.
Toss in the dressing and enjoy.
Notes
To dry-roast bell peppers and chili peppers, preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat. Cut each pepper in half and remove the seeds and pith. Place them cut side-up on the baking sheet and place in the oven. Cook until very soft, 30-45 minutes depending on the size - flip them every 15 minutes. This will also work in the toaster oven! Once you remove them, while they're still warm, put them in a bowl and cover the bowl with something. The steam that forms will help you to pull the skins right off.