Southwest Quinoa Salad – Deciding on Chia

This Southwest Quinoa Salad comes collectively in merely half-hour and is topped off with a delicious chilli lime dressing for a healthful gluten-free salad you gained’t be able to get ample of!

Southwest quinoa salad in a white bowl with a wooden spoon in it

This recipe was initially posted in July 2020. It’s been updated since to make it even larger!

Healthful Southwestern Quinoa Salad

In case you’re looking out for a vibrant, flavorful, and healthful dish that’s wonderful for any occasion then you definately’ll love this Southwest Quinoa Salad! This healthful salad is loaded with latest substances, zesty spices, and topped with a chili lime dressing which will go away you craving further.

This Southwest Quinoa Salad recipe is healthier than your frequent Southwest salad and choices good-for-you substances like avocado, mango and black beans. Serve this salad by itself or with a aspect of air-fryer tortilla chips!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Nutrient-packed: Quinoa, black beans, and up to date veggies make this salad rich in protein, fiber, and dietary nutritional vitamins making it wonderful for a filling lunch!
Vibrant flavours: The combination of sweet mango, spicy jalapeño, and tangy dressing creates an explosion of flavours.
Versatile: This salad is good for a light-weight lunch, aspect dish, or meal prep alternative.
Gluten-free & vegetarian-friendly: This quinoa salad is suitable for diverse dietary needs and can be merely modified. (Be joyful to go away out or change any of the substances!)

Quinoa Salad Key Parts

Salad

Quinoa: The star ingredient. It’s essential use any colour quinoa for this recipe.
Black beans: I reap the benefits of canned for consolation, nevertheless dried work too.
Purple pepper: Offers a crisp, latest crunch. It’s essential use any colour bell pepper.
Jalapeño pepper: Brings a bit of heat to the salad.
Mango: Make sure to utilize a ripe one for a contact of sweetness!
Corn: Current or canned every work successfully.
Purple onion: Offers a sharp chew to stability the flavours.
Avocado: Offers a creamy, clear texture.
Almonds: Slivered and toasted for a satisfying crunch.
Cilantro: Brings latest, herbaceous notes to the salad.

Dressing

Olive oil: The underside of the dressing. Any neutral oil will work.
Lime juice: Offers acidity and brightness to the dressing.
Honey: Balances the flavour of the dressing with a contact of sweetness.
Dijon mustard: Helps bind the dressing collectively.
Chili powder: Offers warmth and flavour.
Cumin: Offers a smoky, earthy flavour.
Salt: Enhances the overall model.

*That’s solely a recipe overview The whole recipe and measurements can be found beneath throughout the recipe card.

Straightforward strategies to make this southwest salad

Step 1

Prepare dinner dinner the quinoa in accordance with bundle directions and let cool. Decrease and chop up the salad substances and add all of them to a bowl with the quinoa.

Tip: you might want to use leftover quinoa out of your fridge for this recipe!

A large mixing bowl with quinoa, black beans, corn, avocado, jalapeno, red onions, mango, almonds, red pepper and cilantro in it

Step 2

If serving the salad immediately, pour the dressing onto the salad and toss the whole thing collectively until evenly coated. If serving later maintain the dressing on the aspect.

Salad dressing being poured into a bowl of quinoa salad

Step 3

Serve the salad as is or season with additional salt and pepper and additional dressing if desired.

A bowl of southwest quinoa salad with two small bowls of salad dressing and toasted almonds on the side

How To Retailer

Dressed: Retailer in an airtight container throughout the fridge for as a lot as 2 days. The quinoa may take up various the dressing over time, so that you could be need in order so as to add additional lime juice or olive oil sooner than serving.
Undressed: If you happen to want to maintain your salad brisker longer, retailer the dressing individually. The salad will remaining for as a lot as 3-4 days undressed. I do advocate together with the avocado to the salad correct sooner than serving so it doesn’t brown.

Solutions for making this recipe fully

Prepare dinner dinner quinoa in broth: For rather more flavour, attempt cooking the quinoa in broth. This will infuse the quinoa with further model and make a superb tasiter salad!
Modify the heat: Take away the seeds from the jalapeno in case you occur to don’t want an extreme quantity of heat. The seeds are the spiciest half.
To meal prep: If making this recipe ahead of time or planning on storing it throughout the fridge, miss the avocado and add in solely at any time when you might want to eat to cease browning. Moreover solely robe the salad when it’s time to serve.
Customise: add any additional veggies you are eager on, or serve this salad alongside together with your favourite protein like tofu or rooster for a high-protein meal.

Typically Requested Questions

Can I meal prep this salad?

Positive! This could be a good salad for meal prep. Nonetheless, if meal prepping this salad I prefer to suggest storing the dressing individually and solely together with the avocado correct sooner than serving so it doesn’t brown.

Can I substitute the quinoa with a definite grain?

Positive. In case you select to utilize brown rice, farro or one different complete grain you might want to use them as another choice to quinoa.

Recipe Video

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A bowl of southwest quinoa salad with a linen napkin on the side

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