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 obtained’t be succesful to get enough 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

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

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 facet of air-fryer tortilla chips!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Nutrient-packed: Quinoa, black beans, and modern 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 right for a light-weight lunch, facet dish, or meal prep selection.
Gluten-free & vegetarian-friendly: This quinoa salad is suitable for various dietary desires and may be merely modified. (Be at liberty to go away out or change any of the substances!)

Quinoa Salad Key Elements

Salad

Quinoa: The star ingredient. You want to use any shade quinoa for this recipe.
Black beans: I exploit canned for consolation, nevertheless dried work too.
Pink pepper: Gives a crisp, modern crunch. You want to use any shade bell pepper.
Jalapeño pepper: Brings a bit of heat to the salad.
Mango: Make certain to utilize a ripe one for a contact of sweetness!
Corn: Up to date or canned every work properly.
Pink onion: Gives a sharp chunk to stability the flavours.
Avocado: Affords a creamy, clear texture.
Almonds: Slivered and toasted for a satisfying crunch.
Cilantro: Brings modern, herbaceous notes to the salad.

Dressing

Olive oil: The underside of the dressing. Any neutral oil will work.
Lime juice: Gives 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: Gives warmth and flavour.
Cumin: Gives a smoky, earthy flavour.
Salt: Enhances the overall model.

*That’s solely a recipe overview The full recipe and measurements may be found beneath inside the recipe card.

The suitable solution to make this southwest salad

Step 1

Put together 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 need 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 each half collectively until evenly coated. If serving later keep the dressing on the facet.

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 inside the fridge for as a lot as 2 days. The quinoa may absorb a couple of of the dressing over time, so that you could be need in order so as to add further lime juice or olive oil sooner than serving.
Undressed: In the event you want to keep 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.

Recommendations for making this recipe fully

Put together dinner quinoa in broth: For way more flavour, try cooking the quinoa in broth. It’ll infuse the quinoa with additional model and make a superb tasiter salad!
Alter the heat: Take away the seeds from the jalapeno in the event 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 inside the fridge, miss the avocado and add in solely in the event you want to eat to cease browning. Moreover solely costume the salad when it’s time to serve.
Customise: add any additional veggies you are eager on, or serve this salad collectively along with your favourite protein like tofu or hen for a high-protein meal.

Incessantly Requested Questions

Can I meal prep this salad?

Positive! This is usually 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 alternate the quinoa with a definite grain?

Positive. Do you have to want to utilize brown rice, farro or one different full grain you need to use them as another option 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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