Welcome to your next favorite meal prep recipe Quinoa and Black Bean Salad!
The Quinoa & Black Bean Salad is not just a feast for your taste buds but also a champion of nutrition and convenience. Perfect for those busy weeks when you want to keep your meals healthy and satisfying.
Let’s dive into how this vegetarian salad can become a staple in your meal prep routine.
Quinoa and Black Bean Salad Ingredients
Every ingredient in this salad plays a key role in making it not only delicious but also nutritionally balanced:
- Quinoa: A superfood grain that’s a complete protein, providing all nine essential amino acids.
- Water: Used to cook the quinoa, making it fluffy and perfect for salads.
- Canned Black Beans: A convenient source of fiber and protein, adding a hearty texture to the salad.
- Bell Pepper: Adds a crunch and a pop of color, along with vitamin C.
- Cucumber: Adds a fresh, crisp texture, enhancing the salad’s refreshing quality.
- Fresh Cilantro: Brings a fresh and citrusy flavor that complements the lime juice.
- Lime Juice: Gives the salad a zesty kick, perfect for enhancing the other flavors.
- Olive Oil: Helps in dressing the salad, adding a smooth and healthy fat.
- Salt and Pepper: Season to taste, bringing out the flavors of all the other ingredients.
For the complete list of ingredients and exact measurements, please refer to the recipe card below.
Instructions Steps
Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe:
- Cook the quinoa and let it cool.
- Rinse and drain the black beans.
- Chop the bell peppers, cucumber and cilantro.
- Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.
- Dress with lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Simple steps for a meal that’s both nutritious and delicious!
Tips and Notes
To make the perfect Quinoa & Black Bean Salad, consider these tips:
- Rinse your quinoa before cooking to remove any bitterness.
- Let the quinoa cool down before adding it to the salad to maintain a refreshing crunch.
- Boost quinoa flavor, kip the water. Cook your quinoa in chicken or vegetable stock to infuse it with a savory depth that’ll make your salad pop.
Storage and Leftovers
This Quinoa & Black Bean Salad is ideal for meal prep because it stores so well:
- Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- It’s versatile! Enjoy it as a side dish, a main course, or even as a filling for wraps.
More Meal Prep Recipes
Quinoa and Black Bean Salad
Discover the perfect meal prep solution with our Quinoa and Black Bean Salad. Easy to store for up to 5 days, it's versatile enough to be a side, wrap filling, or salad topper. Enjoy the convenience of nutritious, vegetarian meals all week long.
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2 cups water
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 orange bell pepper, diced
- 1 cucumber diced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse quinoa under cold water. In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add quinoa and reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed. Let cool.
- In a large bowl, mix cooled quinoa, black beans, bell peppers, cucumber and cilantro.
- In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Pour over the quinoa mixture and stir until well combined.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to let flavors blend.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 234Total Fat 8gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 7gCholesterol 0mgSodium 328mgCarbohydrates 33gFiber 9gSugar 4gProtein 9g