Bring a big punch of flavor to your dinner table with this tasty Southwestern Quinoa Salad! Savory black beans, nutty quinoa, fresh avocadoes and tomatoes meet the bright and herby flavors of an easy homemade pesto, making this Southwest black bean quinoa salad both delicious and ultra-satisfying. You'll want to make this one again and again!
Southwestern Quinoa Salad
- Prep Time 15 min
- Total 60 min
- Servings 6
- Ingredients 14
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed well, drained
- 1 1/2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves
- 1/4 cup raw unsalted hulled pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
- 2 cloves garlic, sliced
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons chopped green chiles (from 4.5-oz can)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 can (15 oz) no-salt added black beans, drained and rinsed
- 6 medium plum (Roma) tomatoes, chopped (2 cups)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Garnish
- 1 avocado, pitted, peeled, thinly sliced
- 6 small cilantro sprigs, leaves torn
Instructions
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Step1Spray 3-quart saucepan with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Add onion to oil; cook 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown. Stir in quinoa and chicken broth. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 10 to 15 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed; remove from heat.
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Step2Meanwhile, in small food processor*, place cilantro, pumpkin seeds, garlic and cumin. Cover; process 5 to 10 seconds, using quick on-and-off motions; scrape side. Add chiles and oil. Cover; process, using quick on-and-off motions, until paste forms.
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Step3Into cooked quinoa, add pesto mixture and the remaining salad ingredients. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes to blend flavors.
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Step4To serve, divide salad evenly among 6 plates; top each serving with 2 to 3 slices avocado and 1 sprig cilantro.
Nutrition
310
Calories
12g
Total Fat
13g
Protein
38g
Total Carbohydrate
5g
Sugars
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories
- 310
- Calories from Fat
- 110
- Total Fat
- 12g
- 19%
- Saturated Fat
- 2g
- 9%
- Trans Fat
- 0g
- Cholesterol
- 0mg
- 0%
- Sodium
- 170mg
- 7%
- Potassium
- 770mg
- 22%
- Total Carbohydrate
- 38g
- 13%
- Dietary Fiber
- 9g
- 35%
- Sugars
- 5g
- Protein
- 13g
% Daily Value*:
- Vitamin A
- 15%
- 15%
- Vitamin C
- 15%
- 15%
- Calcium
- 8%
- 8%
- Iron
- 20%
- 20%
Exchanges:
2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 1 1/2 Vegetable; 1/2 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 2 Fat;Carbohydrate Choice
2 1/2Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens
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