Description
Quick, zesty, and protein-packed! This healthy quinoa salad recipe is ready in just 30 minutes and perfect for meal prep, lunches, or summer gatherings.
Ingredients
1 cup quinoa (uncooked)
2 cups water
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Juice of 2 fresh limes
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (more to taste)
1½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
5 green onions, finely chopped
¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
1️⃣ Rinse quinoa well under cold water.
2️⃣ In a saucepan, combine quinoa and water. Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 10–15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is tender. Let cool.
3️⃣ In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, fresh lime juice, ground cumin, salt, and red pepper flakes.
4️⃣ In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled quinoa, black beans, cherry tomatoes, and green onions.
5️⃣ Pour dressing over the mixture; toss until evenly coated.
6️⃣ Stir in fresh cilantro and add black pepper to taste.
7️⃣ Serve immediately, or chill for a few hours for deeper flavor.
Notes
✅ Naturally gluten-free and vegan.
✅ Perfect for meal prep — keeps well in the fridge for ~5 days.
✅ Customize by adding diced avocado, roasted veggies, or switching lime for lemon.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad, Meal Prep, Vegan
- Cuisine: American, Mediterranean-inspired
Nutrition
- Calories: ~450–470
- Fiber: ~10g
- Protein: ~12–14
Keywords: quinoa salad recipe, healthy quinoa salad, meal prep salad, lime cilantro quinoa salad, gluten-free salad recipe