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Kelli Foster
Kelli FosterSenior Contributing Food Editor
Kelli is a Senior Contributing Food Editor for Kitchn. She's a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and author of the cookbooks, Plant-Based Buddha Bowls, The Probiotic Kitchen, Buddha Bowls, and Everyday Freekeh Meals. She lives in New Jersey.
updated Jan 29, 2020
summer
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Mixed with quinoa, beans, and vibrant fresh veggies, and topped with a zippy chili-lime vinaigrette, this is a potluck salad that everyone can eat.
Serves6 to 8reviews
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You’re going to want to keep this salad firmly planted in your summer meal plan rotation and at the ready for all of your picnics and potlucks. It is what I consider a multi-purpose, do-it-all salad — one that everyone can eat. It gets its bulk from protein-rich pantry staples like quinoa and beans, and picks up freshness, crunch, and color from a medley of veggies before it’s tied together with a zippy chile-lime dressing. You can count on it to hold its own as the main course or a side that pairs with all your summer favorites.
Cool the Quinoa in a Single Layer
There’s a special trick I always use when making quinoa that will be used for room-temperature or chilled salads. As soon as the grains are finished cooking, I spread them in a single layer on a large baking sheet, then pop it in the fridge to cool. Yes, it’s one more dish to add to the pile, but I’d only recommend it if it’s totally worth it. And in this case, it is worth it! This step helps the quinoa cool faster, but more importantly it allows each grain to keep its toothsome, chewy texture. In return, you get a crowd-pleasing salad with textured grains that have distinct pop and chewy bite.
Learn more: Cooking Grains for Your Lunch Salad? Don’t Forget This Final Step.
Fresh Salads for Your Next Party, Potluck, or Backyard BBQ
This summer go beyond the classics and wow the crowd at every potluck with an impressive party-worthy salad. This week we’re sharing five recipes to give you plenty of fresh salad inspiration. Easy enough to pull together any day of the week, these salads go big to serve the whole crowd, and each one has a fun twist to make it stand out among a sea of sides.
Mixed with quinoa, beans, and vibrant fresh veggies, and topped with a zippy chili-lime vinaigrette, this is a potluck salad that everyone can eat.
Serves 6 to 8
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 1 1/2 cups
quinoa, rinsed under cold water
- 2 3/4 cups
water
- 1/2 teaspoon
kosher salt
- 1 (15-ounce) can
black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup
fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels
- 1/2
small red onion, small dice
- 1
medium red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and diced
- 1
medium yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded, and diced
- 2
medium avocados, diced
- 1/2 cup
coarsely chopped fresh cilantro, divided
For the dressing:
- 1/2 cup
olive oil
- 1/3 cup
freshly squeezed lime juice (from 2 to 3 limes)
- 1 teaspoon
ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon
chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon
kosher salt
Pinch cayenne pepper
Instructions
Cook the quinoa. Place the quinoa, water, and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender and all the liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Transfer the quinoa to a rimmed baking sheet, spread into an even layer, and refrigerate until cooled completely, 10 to 15 minutes.
Make the dressing. Place all the ingredients in a large bowl and whisk until emulsified and combined.
Assemble the salad. Add the cooled quinoa, black beans, corn, onion, bell peppers, avocados, and all but 2 tablespoons of the cilantro to the dressing. Toss to combine. Garnish with the reserved 2 tablespoons cilantro. Serve at room temperature or chilled.
Recipe Notes
Make ahead: The dressing can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in a covered container in the refrigerator. The quinoa can be cooked up to 1 day in advance, then cooled and stored in a covered container in the refrigerator.
Storage: Leftovers can be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Filed in:
beans
Canned Goods
Dairy-Free
dinner
easy
Gluten-Free
