Quinoa Salad with Mango, Black Beans, and Cilantro Lime Dressing, full of flavor with a little sweet from the mango, this is a delicious and refreshing summer salad!
I really do try to eat healthy most of the time. I’m human though and I slip. Lately I’ve been walking to the “Candy Corner” at work once a day and grabbing a miniature candy bar, usually about the time I have to take mail around or right before I head out on my lunch break. I have a super sweet tooth and my son’s come by it quite naturally (especially Justin!). For the most part, I don’t eat too many sweets in one day. I’ve had my moments of over indulgence though and I have paid for it by feeling ill and whipped not long after.
In trying to counteract the candy eating I’ve been doing lately and hoping to get this sugar craze out of my system, I started looking at my vegan cookbooks for healthy recipes that would make me feel like I was getting my fill and yet not missing out on anything. I found this recipe for Quinoa Salad and the colors alone in the salad were enough to tempt me! I wanted something that would be delicious and yet good for me, that would hopefully kill that desire for anything full of sugar mid-day. My sweet/heat addiction did have me changing this recipe up a bit from the original when it came to the dressing. I thought the sweetness of the mango would help with my sugar craving and I feel that when you are putting cilantro in anything, it is natural to add lime juice and heat. I made this first without the packet of Splenda but after tasting felt that it needed a little more sweet boost than the mango was giving it. One packet (teaspoon) of it worked out just right for me and I love how it turned out. I am looking very forward to having this for lunch again today!
Other quinoa recipes you may enjoy!
Quinoa Salad with Mango, Black Beans, and Cilantro Lime Dressing
Author:
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup quinoa
- 1 cup black beans
- 1/2 red pepper, diced small
- 1 small mango, cut in small pieces
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
- 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 large lime, juiced
- 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
- 2-3 dashes of cayenne pepper (do this to your heat tolerance)
- 1 teaspoon sugar (or 1 packet splenda)
- dash or two of salt (to taste)
Instructions
- Bring 1 cup of water to boil. Add quinoa and once it has come back to a boil, reduce heat and simmer about 12 minutes or until all water is absorbed. Remove from heat and place in mixing bowl to cool.
- Dice peppers, onions and mango into small pieces. Drain and rinse black beans. Measure 1 cup. Add vegetables and beans along with chopped cilantro to cooled quinoa.
- Whisk together grapeseed oil, cayenne pepper, sugar (or splenda), salt, and juice of one lime. Pour over quinoa mixture and toss to coat.
Debbi Does Dinner Healthy says
This looks awesome! I'm going to have to make this soon. Before mango season disappears.
Fahad Khan says
Sounds very healthy and delicious too!:-) With that touch of mango,lime juice and cilantro,I am sure it is going to taste classic.
Thank you for sharing!
BigBearswife says
I've never used Quinoa, before, what is it?
Shelby says
Quinoa is a high protien grain. It has a nutty flavor to it. There is black, red, and white. My favorite is red! You should give it a try 😉
Mari says
With mango, it has to be great! Thanks.
Helene Dsouza says
awesome dish! Quinoa is a very health benefiting wholegrain, which should be included more in everyones weekly meal planning.
thx for sharing =)
Coleens Recipes says
This looks GREAT. I have issues with (staight) quinoa, but this salad looks fantastic.
Mike @TheIronYou says
I tried this last night: love it!!!!
Thanks for sharing and if you don't mind I will post it on TIY!
Peace
Mike
Katherine Martinelli says
I just made a variation on this for dinner tonight! SO good. This is definitely entering my regular rotation. Thanks!
LaDue & Crew says
Oh wow, this sounds fab, and right up the nutritious alley that I need to be! It has all the flavors I adore 😉 Thanks for stopping by my blog, and commenting 🙂 My family is in flood recovery mode, and while it's stressful, they know that they will be taken care of.
Kalyan says
Just mouthwatering…looks so easy to prepare and delicious!
teresa says
mmmm, i would happily dig into that, delicious!!
Aggie says
That looks fantastic! I love quinoa salads.
motherrimmy says
I'm so happy to find another fan of quinoa! Very nice recipe.
Gera@SweetsFoodsBlog says
I'm big fan of the quinoa and this salad accomplishes all the healthy patterns – great for the palate!
Cheers,
Gera
Mads says
mmm mmm I love quinoa! Any pretty much any dish with black beans and cilantro. Nummy!
Natalie says
Quinoa, black bean and mangoes are 3 of my favorite foods. Putting them all together in this salad must be heaven in a bowl. I most certainly will try this when I get my hands on a mango.
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
Such great fresh flavors here!
Sabrina says
Hey Shelby! I was searching for Quinoa recipes on Google and yours popped up right away! This looks delicious and I'm going to make it today!
Love the new look of your blog!
Shelby says
Yay 🙂 Thanks for letting me know that! Hope you enjoy Sabrina!
Sabrina says
I made it and it was DELICIOUS! YUM!!!!!!