Need to tell you about the nearly no-cook supper I made for dinner that I am currently going NUTS for – Black Bean, Quinoa & Citrus Salad!
I saw this recipe on Eat, Live, Run last week and have been this excited to make it ever since. It combines some of my favorite, fresh flavors like avocado, citrus & sweet corn into a salad that is exploding with flavor. Plus there’s only one small cooking component, which makes it ideal for making on stupid-hot days like today
I started by combining the salad ingredients into a large bowl. Chopped red onion,
grapefruit,
(I cut off the peel of the grapefruit with a knife, then slice and dice the flesh. Very easy & quick, plus I just hate peeling citrus fruit!)
black beans,
dried cranberries,
corn on off the cob,
(which is so sweet & tender that you can just eat it raw!)
diced avocado,
and chopped cilantro.
Look at those lay-ahs of flav-ahs!
Next I added the quinoa. Quinoa (pronounced “keen-wa”) is a complete protein that looks very tiny and innocent, but after simmering in a little water and salt, it “boings” out into a puffy spiral.
See?
You can find quinoa at most grocery stores, but if you don’t like it, or can’t find it for some reason, you could make this salad with couscous, Israeli couscous (that would be bomb) or even brown rice.
Finally I drizzled a zippy, homemade Lime Vinaigrette over top,
tossed everything together, and DOVE IN.
I mean, I just don’t even know where to begin!
The first flavor to jump out at me was the super-sweet corn. Then I noticed the chewy dried cranberries, creamy beans, tart grapefruit and mellow avocado.
Flavor & textures gone wild!
free email bonus
Dinner Made EASY
5 days of simple yet flavorful recipes that take the stress out of dinnertime!
Black Bean, Quinoa & Citrus Salad
Description
Black Bean, Quinoa & Citrus Salad combines fresh flavors like avocado, citrus and sweet corn in a salad that's exploding with flavor.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup dry quinoa
- 1 cup + 2 Tablespoons water
- 1/4 small red onion, minced
- 1 grapefruit, peeled & diced
- 1 can black beans, drained & rinsed
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 2 ears of corn, kernels cut off cob
- 1 avocado, diced
- 1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
- Lime Vinaigrette:
- 1-1/2 limes
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
- Rinse quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer. Add to a small saucepan with the water, then bring to a boil. Put a lid on the pan, turn the heat down to medium-low, then simmer for 15 minutes, or until the quinoa has absorbed all of the water. Remove from heat, let sit for 5 minutes, then remove the lid and fluff quinoa with a fork.
- Combine red onion, grapefruit, black beans, cranberries, corn, avocado, cilantro and cooked quinoa into a large bowl. Toss with lime vinaigrette, sprinkle with additional salt & pepper to taste, then serve.
- For Lime Vinaigrette: juice 1 1/2 limes into a small bowl, then whisk in extra virgin olive oil and season with salt & pepper to taste.
Notes
Slightly adapted from Eat, Live, Run
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
~~~~~
If you could be on a reality show, what one would it be?
I want to be on the Amazing Race. I can’t watch it because I get too jealous! ;) It is also horrifying to know that I am officially too old to be on the Real World. I always thought that would be cool. Maybe in another life!
Julie S. 06.07.2011
I’ve been watching the Bachelorette just ‘cuz there’s nothing else on & my daughter gets a kick out of it. I’m not a big fan of Ashley either, but I really hope she found someone she’s happy with ‘cuz after she’s watched all the episodes so far & heard all the awful things Bentley was saying (while she was falling for him), she’s gonna be seriously f&@%ed up! He’s a real pig!
I just had a chicken salad at Carlos O’Kelley’s this weekend (they have a great lite menu!) that had corn, black beans, green onions, pico, green & red peppers w/ fat-free rasp vinagrette dressing. It was awesome! Just added all those ingredients to my grocery list so I can have it at home!
I’m headed to KC for the wknd. Any suggestions?
Iowa Girl Eats 06.07.2011
I actually haven’t been to KC in yeeeears. I do remember some great shopping though! Have fun!
Steph @321delish 06.07.2011
It’s supposed to be BLAZING hot this week here. This will definitely be on my meal menu this week!
AJ 06.07.2011
I agree that this season’s Bachelorette is not as good as some past seasons. Ashley is WEIRD. I mean seriously, she takes a guy ring shopping on a first date? Then there was the time she told one of the guys that she was flipping a coin to decide if he would get a rose. The look on the poor guy’s face. She seems to enjoy putting men in awkward situations to see how they will react! I’ll keep watching, but I have to wonder why all these hot men really want to be with crazy, ditzy Ashley!
I have no desire to be on a reality show, ever. I guess maybe one where they redo my whole house for free…. I could deal with that.
Tracy 06.07.2011
I was comparing your recipe to ELR’s and noticed you halved everything but the olive oil which you more than doubled. Was that a typo or did you really use that much oil? If you did, was it pretty oily? After tasting it, would you recommend using your quantity or Jenna’s?
Iowa Girl Eats 06.07.2011
No it wasn’t oily at all. I added more oil so it was more of a vinaigrette. I really liked it, but you could do whatever quantities you like best!
Emily @ A Cambridge Story 06.07.2011
What a perfect summer meal. New England is about to get hit with your heatwave, so I just might have to bust this recipe out!
kEndra 06.07.2011
This bachelorette season is just so-so… Bentley made me want to slap him across the face every time he talked though.
Lisa 06.07.2011
Crazy! I made that salad on Sunday…couldn’t resist after seeing ELR’s recipe.
Ashley 06.07.2011
Wow! I think I need to make this salad! *Drool*
I’m not a fan of Ashley at all! However, I did watch it last night. I have to say that I am SO happy that Bentley is FINALLY gone! What a jerk!
Hope 06.07.2011
That salad looks delicious! I am totally going to make it! It has two of my favorite ingredients, quinoa and avocado! Yum!
I totally read Reality Steve too! I’ve been reading him for several years now. I love his site! I have to know what is going to happen on the Bachelorette/Bachelor before it happens. I agree with you on this season. I am not an Ashley fan. She just seems so fake to me.
Amanda 06.07.2011
I am going to be making that wonderful salad for our dish to pass for a BBQ this Friday – DELISH!
If I could be on any reality show, it would be Survivor. I think that I am tough enough to actually show up, and the experience would make me strong enough to make it to the end. I think I could pull it off without turning into one of the girls who follow Boston Rob or Russel. =)
Birgitta 06.07.2011
Lovely recipe!
I’ve been reading this blog for a while but this is my first time commenting. I just wanted to say that I hope you’ll get a helmet as well! In my experience (I used to bike to work, 18 miles round trip) people drive their cars like crazy around bikers.
Ride safely!
laura 06.07.2011
i drooled over this recipe when jenna made it & now i see it again, dang i miss summer.
i always get upset when a cone doesnt have the chocolate ‘plug’, it’s the best part of the ice-cream.
dmcgirl (Dawn) 06.07.2011
I am so happy you got new handle bars/wraps, I was completely grossed out thinking you were using those old ones… EWWWWW!!!
Good job on the makeover, it will be Perrrfectto!
Michelle 06.06.2011
I love quinoa. I’m going to have to try this recipe!
I would love to be on Big Brother. That is my favorite reality show, ever. I think I could outsmart them all and win it!
Jen 06.06.2011
I am not usually a Bachelor/Bachelorette watcher, but I watched tonight and holy cow did Ashley dodge a bullet with Bentley! What a frickin coward to use his daughter as a scapegoat!
Eloise looks great, btw!
Heather W @ www.runningtowardthefinishline.blogspot.com 06.06.2011
The salad looks amazing. Perfect summer meal! I love amazing race too. I think I would choose that show or I just saw a commercial for a new one similar to Survivor called Expedition Impossible that looks like quite the challenge.
Katie @ Pop Culture Cuisine 06.06.2011
I hate ironing and so does the hubby, so we dry clean, I’ll admit we are likely wasting money, but it is worth it to us not to have to do it haha.
I would for sure want to be on Amazing Race, hubs and I love it so much we even pick which challenges each of us would do throughout and what not, yes we are dorks!
amanda 06.06.2011
The chocolate plug at the bottom is THE BEST part for sure!!!! I’ve been known to eat it first… not the best idea lol
anna 06.06.2011
So many things… I NEED to try quinoa. Eloise looks great. I’m jealous of your warm weather (it’s been cold in Reno, go figure! in the desert!). I want salad for dinner now. I agree with you on the Amazing Race! Is Mythbusters considered a reality show? Is Survivor still on? What about Pimp My Ride (haha!)? Hell’s Kitchen! The Next Iron Chef!
Amy 06.06.2011
I hate ironing. I usually iron *in* the wrinkles instead of out!! My hubs even does mine when absolutely necessary. We try to buy the “wrinkle resistant” clothing!!
Oh and I wouldn’t ever be on a reality tv show. Maybe The Price is Right but never a reality show!