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Quinoa Black Bean Salad with Cilantro and Lime

This Quinoa Black Bean Salad with Cilantro and Lime is a healthy, high-protein and high-fiber vegan side dish with just five ingredients, including salt!

If you didn't already know that quinoa is packed with protein, fiber and all of the essential amino acids, then get to know my favorite grain with my Quinoa 101 post.

But that's not all this healthy ancient grain has to offer. It's also naturally nutty and fluffy and absorbs flavors beautifully. That's why I had to include it in this new recipe for black bean salad. Instead of loading the bean salad up with, well, more beans, I decided to add a different vegan protein source: quinoa, of course.

The result is a super quick and easy side dish that's make-ahead and meal-prep friendly. It's full of zesty lime and cilantro flavor and makes a great summer dish.

overhead of a white bowl with the ingredients for black bean, quinoa and cilantro salad

How to Make Quinoa Black Bean Salad

Get ready for a very short ingredient list. This salad is just five ingredients and comes together in five minutes (if you have cooked quinoa on hand).

Here's what you need to make this salad:

  • Fresh lime juice
  • Fresh cilantro. If you're someone who hates the taste of cilantro, you can also make this with parsley or basil!
  • Quinoa
  • Black beans. Feel free to substitute with pinto or red beans if you prefer.
  • Chili sea salt. If you can't find chili salt, you can use regular sea salt and a pinch of chili powder or cayenne pepper for heat.

white bowl of cilantro and bean salad with fresh cilantro and limes

Make-Ahead Quinoa-Bean Salad

This salad is so easy to make AND it stores well. In fact, the salad gets even more flavorful if you let it sit overnight in the fridge. The quinoa grains absorb the lime juice and chili salt.

This salad will stay fresh in an airtight container for up to five days. It also travels well if you're looking for a vegetarian side dish to bring to a party or picnic.

overhead of a white bowl with quinoa and bean salad and fresh limes

Serving Ideas

How do you serve quinoa and black bean salad? The list is pretty endless!

Of course, you can eat this salad all on its own (it's quite filling, thanks to all that fiber and protein in quinoa and black beans).

Or, dress it up to round out your meal:

white bowl of cilantro and bean salad with fresh cilantro and limes

More Healthy Quinoa Salad Recipes To Try

If you make this Quinoa Black Bean Salad with Cilantro and Lime, be sure to let me know what you think with a comment below!

Quinoa Black Bean Salad with Cilantro and Lime

4.2 from 32 votes
This plant-based and gluten-free salad is packed with protein and fiber from black beans, and quiona. It also has just five ingrediens and makes great meal pep.
author: Alyssa
yield: 6 Servings
white bowl of cilantro and bean salad with fresh cilantro and limes
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Add all ingredients to a large bowl and toss to combine. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • Enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cups | Calories: 179kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 479mg | Potassium: 395mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 90IU | Vitamin C: 5.5mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 2.8mg
cuisine: American
course: Salad

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simply-quinoa-instagramIf you make this recipe, make sure to snap a pic and share it on Instagram using #SIMPLYQUINOA – I want to see your own quinoa creations!