Black Bean Quinoa Salad
This fresh-tasting salad combines fluffy quinoa and hearty black beans with crisp cucumber, fragrant cilantro, and a simple lime, olive oil, and cumin dressing. It comes together in about 30 minutes and makes a bright, satisfying choice for a light lunch, picnic, or make-ahead side dish.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook20 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Black Bean Quinoa Salad, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 59 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 10 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 91 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 67
- Heart Health
- 56
- Metabolic
- 50
- Digestive
- 36
- Inflammatory
- 37
- Performance
- 55
- General Wellness
- 1
Bring water and quinoa to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until quinoa is tender and water has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- 2
Whisk olive oil, lime juice, cumin, and salt together in a bowl to make the dressing.
- 3
Combine cooled quinoa, black beans, and cucumber in a large bowl. Pour in the dressing and toss to coat. Stir in cilantro and season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate or serve immediately.
- 4
Whisk olive oil, lime juice, cumin, and 1 teaspoon salt in a bowl to make the dressing.
- 5
Combine the cooled quinoa, black beans, and cucumber in a large bowl.
- 6
Pour in the dressing and toss to coat.
- 7
Stir in cilantro and season with salt and pepper.
- 8
Refrigerate or serve right away.
- Calories 289.65 kcal Moderate 14%
- Protein 8.93 g Moderate 18%
- Carbohydrate 39.92 g 15%
- Total Fat 11.02 g Moderate 14%
- Saturated Fat 1.22 g Moderate 6%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 0.0 mg Low Source 0%
- Sodium 153.7 mg Moderate 7%
- Dietary Fiber 7.02 g Good Source 25%
- Total Sugars 4.11 g --
- Added Sugars 3.31 g Moderate 7%
- Calcium 70.81 mg Low Source 5%
- Iron 3.23 mg Moderate 18%
- Potassium 54.81 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin A 33.75 mcg Low Source 4%
- Vitamin C 15.1 mg Moderate 17%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
About This Recipe
Black Bean Quinoa Salad is a Tex Mex side dish recipe made with 11 ingredients. It takes about 30 mins, serves 6, and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Black Beans, Black Pepper, Cucumber, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Each serving provides about 289.65 kcal, and is a good source of fiber.
Recipe Questions
- What is Black Bean Quinoa Salad?
- It is a Tex-Mex salad recipe made with 11 ingredients, usually served for side dish or lunch or salad.
- What is Black Bean Quinoa Salad made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Beans, Black Pepper, Cucumber, Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Fresh Cilantro. The full list of 11 is above.
- How long does it take to make Black Bean Quinoa Salad?
- About 30 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 289.65 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Black Bean Quinoa Salad easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 11 ingredients and 8 steps.
- Is Black Bean Quinoa Salad healthy?
- Black Bean Quinoa Salad has an easyChef Pro health score of 51/100. Per serving, it provides 289.65 calories and 8.93 g of protein, or 18% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 153.7 mg (7% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 1.22 g (6% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 3.31 g (7% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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