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Mexican Quinoa Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

An easy Mexican quinoa salad full of black beans, sweet corn, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, and avocado with a tangy lime vinaigrette is a perfect lunch salad. 

I have found a food my normally garbage disposal like toddler wont eat: avocado. She picks them all out of this Mexican quinoa salad with lime vinaigrette. Then she either mushes them around on her high chair and finger paints with them or tosses them at the dog, who steps in them and paw paints on the hard wood floor.

Mexican quinoa with lime vinaigrette

Mexican quinoa with lime vinaigrette

It’s good times in this house.

Actually, the entire way my toddler eats this dish is kind of interesting. She goes for the black beans first. They’re her favorite. (I know, I’m not sure where she came from either to love black beans and chickpeas. Side note: she now knows how to open the pantry and has been to bring me cans of black beans and chickpeas and drop them on my feet when she wants them. I’m not a fan of this habit. It hurts.) Then she goes for the corn. Then the quinoa. The tomatoes are a toss up. Sometimes she eats them, other times she just squishes them and laughs like maniac as she does it.Mexican quinoa with lime vinaigrette

I mean I guess it is pretty funny to squish tomatoes. Especially when you finger paint with avocado.Mexican quinoa with lime vinaigrette

While this meal isn’t a total toddler win, it’s an absolute slam dunk for me especially during the spring and summer months. I can make it ahead of time, serve it hot or cold, and it makes a giant serving that I can eat all week for lunch. Plus it’s healthy and delicious and makes up for things like chocolate cheesecake crepes. And since I am still trying to loose the baby weight over a year and a half later, well, healthy is good. After all, I am on week 3 of Shaun T’s butt kicking in T25. If I am going to actually work out instead of collapse on the couch in a heap and watch something trashy and oh so addicting like Gossip Girl on Netflix, then I am not going to kill my efforts all the time with junk.

At least not today. Balance, ya know?

Instead I’m going to get my sweat on and dig into this delicious, protein packed vegan goodness and feel the healthy glow. I won’t tell that the glow is actually the sheen that’s developed on my forehead from the sheer effort of chasing around the Goose today and lack of shower.

Oh well, at least I’m eating well and loving this Mexican quinoa salad.

Mexican Quinoa Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

An easy Mexican quinoa salad full of black beans, sweet corn, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, and avocado with a tangy lime vinaigrette is a perfect lunch salad.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Course: lunch ideas, salads, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: Mexican quinoa salad, quinoa salad
Servings: 6 -8 servings
Author: Seasoned Sprinkles

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups of uncooked quinoa
  • 1 can approximately 1 2/3 cups black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup of frozen corn
  • 1 bell pepper
  • 1 onion
  • 2 cups of cherry tomatoes quartered
  • 1 avocado**
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon of cumin
  • 1 teaspoon of chili powder
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • sprinkle of cilantro*

Dressing

  • The juice of two limes
  • 3/4 cup of olive oil
  • salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Cook the quinoa according the package instructions and set aside in a large bowl.
  • While the quinoa is cooking, dice the onion and pepper and cook in 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat until soft, about 5-7 minutes.
  • When onions and pepper are soft, add the drained black beans, corn and spices. Cook until corn is thawed.
  • Pour the warm veggie mixture over the quinoa. Add the quartered cherry tomatoes and diced avocado.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the lime juice and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Pour dressing over the quinoa salad and toss together until all veggies are coated.

Notes

*People have a love hate relationship with cilantro. If you love it, use it. If you hate it, feel free to omit it.
**If you are adding the avocado when you make the salad and intend to eat this all week long, then you must toss it in the dressing. The lime keeps the avocado from turning brown.

Nutrition

Serving: 6g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

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  1. This looks absolutely delicious! Will have to make this soon!

  2. Cricket says:

    Oh, I love quinoa, and this recipe hits all the notes for me. Thanks for sharing it – I’ll definitely be putting it in our rotation. 🙂

  3. Jenn says:

    I love putting quinoa in to the mix. I’m constantly putting bowls together like this. I will be trying this combo it is something I would eat on a daily basis!! Thanks for sharing.

    • jfletcher says:

      I have been eating this every day for lunch this week. It’s pretty addicting! Thanks for visiting!

  4. Francine says:

    I love quinoa everything, and my go to salad also have a Mexican vibe but uses sweet potatoes and black olives. 😉 This one looks like a great alternative to mix things up!

    As a side note a totally remember that toddler life. My son actually loved avocado at that age, but refuses to eat it now at 7. 🙂 His love for chick peas endured though.

    • jfletcher says:

      I love sweet potatoes and black olives. I do a roasted sweet potato salad when it’s colder out. My kiddo actually loves black olives too. She picks them off my plate when I have them. Funny that your son loved avocado back in the day and won’t eat it now. They change fast don’t they?

  5. I am always looking for new salad recipes, especially in the summer. This looks like a great way to add some protein to keep the kids fuller longer!

    • jfletcher says:

      It does keep my little girl full for awhile. It also provides her with so much entertainment! Avocados are SO FUN to paint with lol!

  6. Carolne says:

    This sounds delicious! I love avocado, but I get why your toddler doesn’t – they’ve got such a weird texture! My mum used to get my brother and i to eat them by putting OJ in the stone hollow and telling us it was dessert!

    • jfletcher says:

      I think it may be a texture thing- you’re right! You know what else has a weird texture? Flan. I just can’t. Your mum was smart with the oj trick btw!

  7. Brittany says:

    I am always looking for new ways to use Quinoa! Thanks!

    • jfletcher says:

      Check back again soon! We use tons of quinoa in our house so there will be lots and lots of recipes 🙂

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