Quinoa Salad, It’s a Meal

This salad is packed with protein and great if you are living gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian or vegan.  If you need meat in what you eat, add it, but it can stand up on it’s own.  When adding the corn, my favorite is to grill a couple ears, cut off the kernels and add those to this recipe.

Quinoa Salad  ©Diane Eblin

Quinoa Salad ©Diane Eblin

Ingredients:

1 can organic black beans, rinsed or 1 ½ cups cooked beans from dried
Equivalent amount of frozen or fresh corn
1 red pepper chopped
1 pablano pepper chopped
1 large jalapeno pepper chopped (membrane and seeds removed, more you keep the hotter the spice)
½ red onion diced
2 green onions sliced (white and green parts)
1 cup cooked red quinoa
Handful fresh chopped cilantro
1 tsp Epazote
1 tsp ground cumin
Celtic Sea Salt and pepper to taste
Juice of 1 large lime
1/3 cup Organic unrefined and unfiltered extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

Mix it all together and you have a wonderful tasting salad packed with protein.

Epazote is very popular for Mexican and South American cooking.  It is used the most in all types of bean dishes from chili to bean salad.  I found mine at Penzys Spices. It has been used in Mexican cuisine for thousands of years dating back to the Aztecs who used it for cooking as well as for medicinal purposes. Epazote has a distinct taste that cannot be replaced by other herbs. If you do not have access to it, you can leave it out. If you leave it out, use more of the other seasonings to balance out the loss of the epazote. It has been used in moderation to help relieve abdominal discomfort (gassiness) that can come from eating beans.

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11 Responses to Quinoa Salad, It’s a Meal

  1. gfe-gluten free easi April 11, 2009 at 8:43 am #

    That has to be the best-looking quinoa salad that I've ever seen! Yum. Thanks for the education on Epazote, too. It is indeed new to me. Penzey's has such terrific herbs, spices, and seasoning mixes. I definitely want to give the Epazote a try in the near future.
    Thanks,
    Shirley

  2. gfe-gluten free easily April 11, 2009 at 12:43 pm #

    That has to be the best-looking quinoa salad that I’ve ever seen! Yum. Thanks for the education on Epazote, too. It is indeed new to me. Penzey’s has such terrific herbs, spices, and seasoning mixes. I definitely want to give the Epazote a try in the near future.
    Thanks,
    Shirley

  3. Diane Eblin April 11, 2009 at 9:13 am #

    Shirley- I really like the red quinoa best and I think it makes a big difference in this salad. I love Penzeys. There is one located near me but they also ship. Their spices and herbs are gluten free but not the soup mixes. Always check!

  4. Heather @CeliacFamil April 11, 2009 at 12:58 pm #

    This looks great. I haven't tried quinoa this way, but will have to try this recipe. Looks beautiful and yummy!

  5. Diane Eblin April 11, 2009 at 1:13 pm #

    Shirley- I really like the red quinoa best and I think it makes a big difference in this salad. I love Penzeys. There is one located near me but they also ship. Their spices and herbs are gluten free but not the soup mixes. Always check!

  6. CoconutGal April 11, 2009 at 5:39 pm #

    mmm… love quinoa!! I love how colorful and pretty the salad is.

  7. Heather @CeliacFamily.com April 11, 2009 at 10:58 pm #

    This looks great. I haven’t tried quinoa this way, but will have to try this recipe. Looks beautiful and yummy!

  8. CoconutGal April 11, 2009 at 9:39 pm #

    mmm… love quinoa!! I love how colorful and pretty the salad is.

  9. Diane Eblin April 13, 2009 at 5:34 pm #

    Heather- Thank you. Let me know how you like the taste.
    CoconutGal- Thank you. We eat with our eyes first so I was hoping to entice my husband to eat more veggies.
    Thank you for your comments.

  10. Diane Eblin April 14, 2009 at 3:34 am #

    Heather- Thank you. Let me know how you like the taste.
    CoconutGal- Thank you. We eat with our eyes first so I was hoping to entice my husband to eat more veggies.
    Thank you for your comments.

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