Black Quinoa Salad recipe – Mangoes, avocados, peppers, lime

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Originally published in 2013, I wanted to republish this one because it’s so easy to make and it would add some great color to your meals this time of year.

Black Quinoa Salad recipe

If you are a fan of quinoa (pronounced keen-wah), you should give this black quinoa salad recipe a try! It’s incredibly refreshing and I love the colors!

Black quinoa has a nuttier and more of a roasted flavor than regular quinoa. It’s actually a seed. And it’s unique because quinoa is a complete protein! It expands like rice when it’s cooked and becomes a fluffier grain.

INGREDIENTS

Black quinoa, 1 cup dried (will be more when you cook it)

2 ripe mangoes, diced

1 red pepper, de-seeded and diced

1 orange pepper, de-seeded and diced

1 avocado, diced

Optional: cilantro, spinach

Dressing: 

Fresh lime juice, 1/2 cup (I used two limes)

Red wine vinegar, 3 Tablespoons

Olive oil, 1/4 Cup

Cayenne powder 1/4 teaspoon (this had a slight bite, if you want less, use less)

Cumin, 1 Tablespoon

Salt, 1/2 teaspoon

Pepper, a few dashes

HOW TO PREPARE

1.) Rinse quinoa. Although most commercial quinoa these days has already been rinsed before you buy it – an extra rinse can’t hurt. Especially if you’re buying from a bulk bin. Because it is such a fine grain, I like to use a flour sack towel, over a colander to rinse and drain it (I use the same thing to strain my homemade chicken broth). Grab the tops of the flour sack and squeeze the liquid out.

2.) Cook quinoa. I prefer to cook quinoa in the rice cooker. It’s so easy. Just rinse it and toss it into the rice cook with a quinoa to water ration of 1:2 (for this recipe 1 cup quinoa, 2 cups water). Cook your quinoa.

3.) While quinoa cooks, dice all your ingredients. It’s like a rainbow. . .ahhhh.

3.) Once quinoa has cooled, add all the diced ingredients (if you are making ahead, you can hold off on avocado, so it doesn’t turn color or get mushy).

4.) Mix together dressing ingredients, pour into quinoa.

5.) Stir and serve. This salad can be served immediately, but I like chilling it in the fridge beforehand.

Recommended: Take it to a potluck. You will be a rockstar.

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Have you cooked with black quinoa before? What’s your favorite black quinoa salad recipe?

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You might like my other quinoa recipes here:

• *popular* Slow Cooker Quinoa Chili
• *same dressing as this recipe* Quinoa black beans, corn, cilantro salad
• Quinoa Lemon Salad
• Quinoa with Goat Cheese, Strawberries
• Quinoa Salad with Balsamic Vinegar, Arugula, Pistachios
• Quinoa Avocado Spinach Salad