Vegan Black Bean & Quinoa Salad

Happy Cinco de Mayo, everyone! Now usually on this holiday, I would be overly indulging in yummy chicken burritos, packed with cheese and rice! But this year will look a little bit different for me. Within the past month, I have made the decision to *attempt* to fully transition from first a vegetarian diet to eventually Veganism. This being said, I reached out to my brother who is extremely strict with his diets, in hopes of him sharing his secret recipe to one of the best dishes I have ever tried in my life! In honor of Cinco de Mayo, I would encourage anyone who is looking to spice up their diet with this super healthy, easy, and quick dish!

What you’ll need:

• 1 cup dry quinoa
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive/grapeseed oil
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 clove garlic, grated
• Juice of one lime
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 can black beans, drained
• 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1 handful of cilantro, chopped
• 1 avocado, sliced
• 1/4 apple, chopped (optional for crunch & tartness)
• Walnuts, Cranberries (optional)
• Sprinkle of Feta or Queso Fresco (optional)

 

Directions:

1. Prepare the quinoa. Bring the pot to a boil with 2 cups of water, then cover and reduce heat to low and simmer for about 10-15 minutes until all of the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa has sprouted out.
2. Simultaneously, mix your oil, cumin, garlic, lime, and salt together in the bottom of a large bowl to let the flavors mix while the quinoa cooks.
3. Chop the veggies. Add the cooked quinoa, beans, apple, and veggies to the bowl and gently mix in all ingredients with the dressing.
4. The quinoa can be warm, room temp, or cold when you serve the dish. To better set the flavors together, I suggest letting it chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes. I prefer the salad cold but have also ate spoonfuls while preparing it, so it is entirely up to your preference! Without this step, cook time is about 20-25 mins.

And Voilà!

If you are ready to experience a healthy Cinco de Mayo inspired dish, I urge you to give this recipe a try! For fun, add cheese, avocado, and tortillas to finish the meal off!