Tropical Quinoa Salad with Pineapple and Black Beans (Printable)

Fluffy quinoa tossed with sweet pineapple, black beans, and crisp vegetables in zesty lime dressing.

# Components:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 2 cups water

→ Fruits and Vegetables

03 - 1½ cups fresh pineapple, diced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - ½ small red onion, finely chopped
07 - 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
08 - ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
09 - 1 avocado, diced

→ Dressing

10 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
12 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
13 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
14 - ½ teaspoon salt
15 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

# Method:

01 - Combine quinoa and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and cool to room temperature.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled quinoa, pineapple, red bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, red onion, black beans, and cilantro.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime juice, maple syrup, cumin, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
04 - Pour dressing over salad and toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
05 - Immediately before serving, fold in diced avocado to prevent browning.
06 - Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 35 minutes but tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen.
  • The lime dressing with cumin hits that sweet-savory-bright note that makes every bite feel like a mini vacation.
  • It's naturally vegan and gluten-free without tasting like you're missing anything.
02 -
  • Never add the avocado until you're ready to serve, or it will turn brown and bitter-tasting, which I learned the hard way when I meal-prepped this without thinking.
  • The lime dressing is stronger than you might expect, but it's supposed to be because it needs to stand up to the sweetness of the pineapple and the earthiness of the beans.
03 -
  • Toast the cumin in a dry pan for 30 seconds before whisking it into the dressing if you want the flavor to be even more pronounced and warm.
  • Squeeze your lime juice fresh and let it sit for a minute before whisking the dressing together, which seems to make the flavors brighter and more complex.
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