Quick, healthy quinoa salad tossed with black beans, avocado slices and grapes, dressed with lime juice and rice vinegar.
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We all need salads like this as we head into warmer weather. It’s healthy, gorgeous and delicious. Best of all, it comes together in about 30 minutes if you have the beans on hand.
Ingredients
QUINOA
- I used white quinoa, but you can also use red or tricolor quinoa.
- A quicker option is to purchase frozen cooked quinoa, sold in bags in the frozen foods section of the market.
MILLET
- Like quinoa, millet is a seed, and is gluten-free.
BLACK BEANS
- Buy canned or better yet, cook your own from dried. If you start with dried beans, follow these instructions for cooking them on the stove, in the slow cooker, or Instant Pot.
- If you go with canned beans, be sure to look for ones with BPA-free linings and no added salt. Eden Foods and Trader Joe’s canned beans are both a safe way to go, and I’m sure there are others too.
NUTRITIONAL YEAST
- Nutritional yeast is loaded with healthy nutrients, and is considered one of those super foods we should all be eating. It adds savory flavors similar to cheese to dishes. It has lots of uses. Best of all, it’s a complete protein.
Ways to Simplify This Quinoa Salad
- Cook the quinoa and millet blend ahead.
- Use only quinoa or millet, but not both.
- Substitute rice for the grains.
- Make the beans ahead. I almost always have a batch in the freezer or refrigerator.
Want more vegetarian and vegan dish ideas? I can help you. I have three newsletters for different topics: 1) Weekly Recipes, 2) Vegetarian Meal Plans, and 3) Monthly Vegetarian Tips for helping you to move to a more vegetarian diet. Choose which newsletters are most relevant to your lifestyle, and you’ll also get my 5 Secrets to Fuss-Free Dinners.
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Mixed Grains Salad with Avocado and Black Beans
Ingredients
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa I used white
- 1/2 cup uncooked millet grain
- 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3/4 cup yellow onion diced
- 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans
- 2 garlic cloves minced ( or 1 tsp Gourmet Garden Chunky Garlic Paste)
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ cup halved red grapes
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro roughly chopped + more for garnish
- 1 Tbsp lime juice or rice vinegar
- 1 avocado pit removed and diced into chunks
- 1/4 cup sunflower kernels
- sea salt and pepper to taste
- 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast
Instructions
- Bring the vegetable broth to a simmer in a small pot over medium-high heat. Add the quinoa and millet and reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes or until the quinoa and millet are cooked and the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
- Note: for tips on cooking quinoa, go here.
- In a medium skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the onions and sauté until tender, about 10 minutes. Add the black beans, garlic, cumin, and grapes, cooking for a few minutes until fragrant. Remove from heat.
- Transfer the grains to a large mixing bowl, and add onion-bean mixture and toss to combine. Stir in remaining ingredients, season with salt and pepper to taste, and toss with nutritional yeast.
- Garnish with additional cilantro.
Karen @ Karen's Kitchen Stories says
This sounds right up your alley and your photo is gorgeous!!!
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
I’ve made this dish so many times now in the past month! You’re so right Karen – it’s right up my alley 🙂
Karen Burns-Booth says
A PERFECT recipe for me as I adore quinoa and salads in general! I also love the addition of grapes in this salad too…..what a great SRC reveal day recipe, Karen
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
The grapes worked surprisingly well! I wouldn’t have thought about them except they were there in the refrigerator when I was collecting the ingredients to make this!
Norma Chang says
Love the combo. Have most of the ingredients in either my pantry or freezer, will get the others when I visit the food store this week.
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
I hope you enjoy it as much as we did here, Norma!!
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says
What an interesting combo of flavors! But none that I dislike so I am intrigued to try this.
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
Everything really pulled together in this recipe! I hope you give it a try!
Emily @ Life on Food says
I feel healthier already. This salad looks packed full of goodness.
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
I know what you mean, LOL!
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
What a great, healthy-looking salad!! I could make a whole meal out of this for sure! I love that there are grapes in there for a little something sweet. 🙂
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
You would love this one, Jess! You’ve gotta try it 🙂
Lynsey @ Lynsey Lou's says
This salad looks amazing and perfect for the warmer weather that’s coming up. I love fruit in salads and the addition of grapes sound delish!
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
The grapes really brighten it up for a warm day! Thanks!
Rebekah @ Making Miracles says
Oh my this dish has everything!! Sounds absolutely fantastic – so many healthy, flavorful ingredients.
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
Thanks so much Rebekah! I absolutely loved your recipe this month – I can’t wait to make it!
Wendy, A Day in the Life on the Farm says
Great Grains Batman!!!! Terrific recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Rita Held says
OMG, yet another delectable/healthy salad! Where do you buy your grains, Susan? And are they in bulk?
Melissa says
What a healthy salad! Perfect for the hot summer nights we will hopefully soon be experiencing!! Great pick this month 🙂
Couscous & Consciousness says
I like to keep stashes of pre-cooked beans, chickpeas and various grains in the freezer too, and this totally looks like a salad I could fall in love with – it’s my kind of meal. Loving your addition of the red grapes too – that’s a great idea. I need to go check out Nora’s blog now – sounds like she has some food I would definitely love.
Nora @ Natural Noshing says
Awww thanks so much for the sweet words! I am SO thrilled you enjoyed this recipe, I love the addition of grapes — I’ll have to try that! Happy Reveal Day! 🙂
Lynn Huntley says
Happy Reveal Day~ Love this recipe…perfect on a warm summer evening, Lynn
nicole @ I am a Honey Bee says
I love quinoa. I swear i could eat it every day. So yummy. great pick!
Rita Held says
sounds totally delicious and healthy!
Sloan @ Life Food and Beer says
These recipe sounds great!!
Alice Mizer says
avocado, black beans and grapes sounds like a crazy combination but it looks like it works! 🙂
Alisa @ Go Dairy Free says
I love that you used grapes rather than grape tomatoes! I often find tomatoes too acidic in these types of salads – the sweet yet complimentary flavors of the grapes sounds perfect!
Michelle@healthiersteps says
This is my kind of salad, thanks for sharing!
Florian @ContentednessCooking says
Love this vibrant salad, thanks for sharing this!
Faith (An Edible Mosaic) says
This is my kind of salad! Hearty and filling, with layer after layer of flavor. And I love that you added grapes! Fruit is such a nice addition to a savory salad.
Sarah E says
That looks like the perfect salad for summer – nice and light! Happy belated reveal day!
Lauren @ Sew You Think You Can Cook says
I questioned the grapes when I read your recipe title, but I could see how they work!