quinoa salsa salad
Great salad that's so easy to turn into a whole meal salad if you add grilled chicken or steak. Leave as is for your vegetarians. Omit romaine if you want to serve with tortilla chips, or roll up in a wrap for something a little more filling. If you have tried quinoa before and found it bland you didn't toast it. Toasting quinoa will give it a nutty fragrance and flavor.
prep time
30 Min
cook time
20 Min
method
Stove Top
yield
6 serving(s)
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup toasted quinoa
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 - 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 - ears corn or 1 cup frozen
- 1 cup pineapple, chopped
- 3 - green onions, sliced thin
- 3/4 cup chopped tomato
- 1/2 cup chopped orange bell pepper
- 1/2 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
- 1 medium head romaine lettuce, chopped
- 3 teaspoons white balsamic vinegar
- 3 tablespoons agave nectar
- 2 tablespoons pineapple juice
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium jalapeno, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
How To Make quinoa salsa salad
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Step 1If you have never toasted quinoa do this step first. Preheat large, heavy skillet over medium high heat. Rinse quinoa even if it is pre washed and drain well. Dump quinoa into the hot skillet and with a wooden spoon begin to stir. Don't stop stirring until your quinoa is a lovely light golden brown. This process takes about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and pour toasted quinoa into a medium mixing bowl. Toss for a few minutes to cool it down and stop the cooking process. Your quinoa will now have a slight nutty fragrance and when cooked that flavor carries over.
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Step 2In a medium saucepan bring water to a boil.
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Step 3Add quinoa.
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Step 4Return to a boil, cover and reduce heat to simmer.
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Step 5Cook for 20 minutes. All water should be absorbed.
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Step 6Set aside.
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Step 7In a medium mixing bowl combine the black beans, parsley, green onions, tomato and pepper. Chop fresh pineapple, put it in a colander over a bowl to collect juice-you want 2 tablespoons.
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Step 8Cut the kernels off the corn. Using the same skillet you toasted the quinoa in cook the kernels in a small amount of oil until it just starts to turn a very light brown in spots. If using frozen corn do the same.
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Step 9Add toasted corn to the mixing bowl containing the other veg and fruits.
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Step 10Add cooked quinoa and chopped pineapple, give it a good stir.
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Step 11For the dressing-
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Step 12In a small mixing bowl whisk together the white balsamic vinegar, agave nectar, pineapple juice, lime juice, minced garlic and jalapeno, salt and olive oil.
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Step 13Whisk well to combine.
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Step 14Add dressing to quinoa mixture, stirring well.
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Step 15Chop romaine and add to quinoa/dressing mixture.
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Step 16Toss really well.
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Step 17Serve.
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!
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