Southwestern Quinoa Salad

Southwestern Quinoa Salad with quinoa, black beans, corn, bell peppers and lime dressing. Bursting with southwestern flavors, this side dish is delicious as it’s nutritious.

I have to admit, this is the very first time I’ve ever tried quinoa. Before today, I didn’t even know how to pronounce the darn seed. I went to our nearby Sprouts Market looking for kwuh-NO-ah and I was greeted by blank stares. “Oh, you mean KEEN-wah?”, answered an employee after I repeated myself for the fifth time and lead me to the appropriate aisle.

You see, I saw my doctor a few weeks ago regarding persistent discomfort and swelling in my knees. Fortunately, he said my complaints were from nothing major. Unfortunately, he said they were from the weight I gained this past year. I am built like your everyday Asian and I suppose frame is not accustomed to the extra pounds it’s carrying now.

Like a typical Asian, rice is a quintessential part of my daily meals. But as I have been placed by my doctor on a semi-diet, I had to look into the superfood quinoa as a possible replacement. Quinoa is touted as a protein-rich grain as well as a good source of potassium, iron, Vitamin E, lysine, and fiber.

Along with its nutritional benefits, I also found quinoa easy to cook as rice. And with the plethora of quinoa recipes I discovered online, it appears to be pretty versatile as well.

I have to say, there is no better introduction to quinoa than this southwestern quinoa salad! I enjoyed it so much I don’t think I’ll pine for rice for too long. The colorful mix of red bell peppers, black beans, and corn deliciously complements the nutty quinoa while the lime dressing wraps it all up with a refreshing tang and a kick of spice.

This amazing dish is a must try! Bursting with southwestern flavors, it’s both delicious and nutritious!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @OnionRingsAndThings on Facebook and Instagram!

5 from 3 votes

Southwestern Quinoa Salad

Southwestern Quinoa Salad with quinoa, black beans, corn, bell peppers and lime dressing. Bursting with southwestern flavors, this side dish is as delicious as it is nutritious.

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 35 minutes mins

Author: Onion Rings and Things

Course: Side Dish

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6 Servings

Ingredients

• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• 2 cups water or vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 limes, juiced
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 15 ounces black beans, rinsed and drained
• 8.75 ounces kernel corn, drained
• 1 small red bell pepper, seeded, cored and diced
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
• 1/2 red onion, peeled and chopped

Instructions

• Using a fine mesh sieve, rinse quinoa under cold running water until water runs clear. Drain well.
• In a pot over medium heat, combine quinoa, water and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. Bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for about 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and allow to cool completely.
• In a small bowl, combine lime juice, olive oil and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Whisk until blended.
• In a large bowl, combine quinoa, black beans, corn, red bell peppers, jalapeno pepper, and onions. 
• Add lime dressing and gently toss to combine. 
• Refrigerate for about 20 to 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Serve cold.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 297g, Calories: 613kcal, Carbohydrates: 107.5g, Protein: 27.1g, Fat: 12.5g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 430mg, Potassium: 1892mg, Fiber: 19.5g, Sugar: 10.6g, Vitamin A: 700IU, Vitamin C: 80.9mg, Calcium: 110mg, Iron: 10.8mg

“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”

First Published September 22, 2014.