Quinoa Black Bean Salad Recipe (with Lemon Dressing)

Have you ever paid an astronomical price for a salad at the local market only to discover it is amazing and addicting? That’s what happened to me with this salad! This simple, clean-tasting Quinoa Black Bean Salad with lemon dressing is so delicious you will want to make it every single week. The bright citrus flavor from fresh lemon and the hint of spice is exactly what I was looking for.

Quinoa soaks up flavor, maintains its texture, and provides just the right amount of toothy goodness. It shines in this dish and, combined with the black beans, brings plenty of protein to the table. It’s a light, bright, and crave-worthy salad, and our recipe is so simple you’ll never get yours from the supermarket ever again.

Why You’ll Love Quinoa Black Bean Salad

• Packed with protein that will keep you full. With eight grams of protein in a cup of quinoa and fifteen grams of protein in a cup of black beans, this recipe packs a protein punch into your day.
• It’s Vegan. No animal by-products are in this recipe, it cannot get any cleaner.
• Keeps for a week. No spoiled lettuce. If you are tired of green salads because the greens always spoil, your gonna love meal prep this weekend.
• Works as a meal or a side dish. If you want a light and easy lunch, this is perfect. If you want something to serve alongside grilled salmon, it’s also perfect.
• Versatile. So many variations are possible!

What is quinoa?

While not technically a grain, these edible seeds are rich in protein, dietary fiber, B vitamins and dietary minerals in amounts greater than in many grains.

What are the benefits of eating quinoa?

In addition to the nutritional information cited above, this seed is a complete protein. The powerful combination of fiber, protein, and healthy fats makes it perfect as the base for any vegan meal.

What is the difference in quinoa colors?

White quinoa is very mild and takes on flavors easily. Red quinoa has a nutty flavor and is little more crunchy. Black quinoa has a little sweetness and a slightly sandy texture. Red, white or a combination of all three will work for this recipe, but I do not recommend using all black quinoa because it is the crunchiest of the three and the texture on its own might be off-putting.

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Ingredients For This Recipe

• Cooked Quinoa – We used rainbow quinoa also called tri-color. One part quinoa, two parts water.
• Cucumbers – English cucumbers are a little more expensive but we find them mild and easy to seed and chop. You can use any cucumber.
• Red Peppers – Bell peppers. You can use any color but we like the sweetness of the red peppers.
• Carrots – Fresh diced carrots.
• Black Beans – We used canned black beans and rinsed them prior to using them.
• Whole Kernel Corn – Adds a sweetness to our salad. Use either frozen and then thawed or canned.
• Fresh Parsley – Fresh parsley adds flavor to this simple salad.

Ingredients for the Dressing

• Lemon Juice. Freshly squeezed works best. Lime juice will also work.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Use what you like. We prefer California olive oil. It’s smooth and mild.
• Ground Cumin – We love the flavor this spice adds to our salad.
• Dried Oregano – If you have Mexican Oregano, that’s a great substitute.
• Salt and Pepper.

How To Make Black Bean Quinoa Salad

Please note, that the printable recipe card has the full list of ingredients, quantities, complete instructions, and nutritional information. The following is a quick overview of the recipe.

The first step is to cook your quinoa.

Our recipe calls for two cups of water and one cup of quinoa. Combine the two in a medium-sized saucepan, bring it to a boil, and simmer. When the water is all absorbed, it is ready to go. Refrigerate the quinoa until you have the other ingredients ready.

Prepare the ingredients for the salad.

Dice the carrots, red pepper, and cucumber and put them into a large bowl. 

Mix the Salad Dressing.

Add the dressing ingredients to a jar or salad dressing shaker. Mix until combined.

Assemble Your Easy Quinoa Salad!

Add the quinoa to the diced vegetables. Pour the dressing over the salad. Stir in chopped parsley. Add salt and pepper if needed. Chill and serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

What meat goes well with Quinoa Black Bean Salad?

My favorite is grilled salmon. If you aren’t a fan of fish, you could certainly pair it with grilled chicken or beef, or lamb.

How To Store this Easy Quinoa Salad

This salad must be refrigerated. Keep it in an airtight container and enjoy it within a week.

Can I freeze quinoa salad?

No. Several of the ingredients in this dish will not freeze well. However, you can freeze cooked quinoa and then thaw it as you need it. This is great for those who prefer cooking quinoa in bulk once every few months.

Variations and Substitutions

• In place of quinoa, you can use couscous or brown rice.
• When making the dressing, you can use lime instead of lemon. You can also use a store-bought citrus vinaigrette.
• If you want to change up the flavors, use a Mediterranean spice blend and add olives for a Mediterranean Quinoa Salad, or add chili powder to the dressing and replace the parsley with cilantro for a Southwest Quinoa Salad.
• Add a protein such as grilled chicken or salmon.

Hostess Tips

• The choices we made for this salad are not only delicious but will keep for a week. If you make adjustments to the ingredients, such as adding tomatoes or cooked protein, add it to individual servings and not to the entire bowl. It will keep better and longer.
• To cool your quinoa quickly, spread it out on a sheet pan and place it in the refrigerator. This works wonders if you want to serve the salad right away and don’t have time to chill it long in the fridge. Quinoa salad should be served and eaten cold.
• Dice the vegetables the same size. This balances out the flavor and makes it enjoyable to eat.

I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.

If you enjoyed this recipe check these others out!

Light salads are the way of summer, and you can’t go wrong with Chopped Thai Salad with Spicy Thai Dressing or a Creamy Tropical Fruit Cocktail Salad Recipe. Italian Tomato Mozzarella Salad is another great option.

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