With so much going on last week, I felt like I was walking around in a haze half the time. Both global and personal events had me preoccupied. So, in that haze, I made a pot of quinoa last night to accompany dinner, only to realize I’d made so many different things, no one even wanted it. I stuck it in the fridge and figured I’d make a salad with it. Well, here it is! I just started pulling things together and this became the best lunch I’d had in a long time! I could hardly stop eating long enough to take some photos and get this written up.
This salad is a combination of textures. The crunch of the pepitas and the quinoa, and creaminess of the black beans and mangoes are wonderful. And the bit of sweetness from those mangoes and the currants against the savory citrus dressing is so good! I could eat this all day. This salad will be great to pack up for my daughter’s lunches this week or as a side dish for a light and healthy dinner!
Red Quinoa and Mango Salad
3 cups cooked red quinoa, cooled
2 ripe mangoes, cubed
15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup frozen sweet corn kernels
1/4 cup currants
2 green onions, sliced
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
1/2 cup roasted pepitas
Citrusy Vinaigrette
juice of one lemon
juice of one lime
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Combine all of the salad ingredients, up to the parsley, in a large bowl. Combine the dressing in a small bowl and whisk until combined. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine and get it all covered. Refrigerate for an hour before serving. Toss in the pepitas just before serving to keep their crunch.
Notes:
- I like to rinse my quinoa before cooking. If you don’t have a really fine sieve, line whatever sieve you do have with some paper towel. You’ll have to really shake those little buggers off afterward, but it is worth it. Rinsing removes the saponins (a substance that makes quinoa bitter) and really makes a huge difference.
- Pepitas are pumpkin seeds. Find them in the nut section of your store.
- I used Champagne mangoes in this salad. You can use any mango. They just happened to be on sale this past week. This was my first time trying them. Their texture is a bit creamier than most mangoes, they have a really pretty golden color, inside and out and they get really sweet when left out on the counter.
- This year, 2013, has been declared, “The International Year of Quinoa” by the United Nations! Read about the global importance of this super nutritious grain.
- If you’d like more nutritional information about quinoa, check out this great source: World’s Healthiest Foods!
I’ve been making this recipe for years!! Literally, years. It’s one of a few recipes that I always come back to! Thank you!!!
This makes me so happy, Megan! Thanks so much for letting me know! To be honest, I haven’t made this in ages and I’m so glad you reminded me of it! xo
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! I made it at the end of last week and again, and again. It is so beautiful I posted the recipe (with only the smallest changes) on my own blog.
I’m so happy to hear you like this so much! I love that you are sharing it. Thanks so much!
Fantastic salad. We eat quinoa all the time. Love the combination with Mango.
I made this and loved it. Quinoa salads are the best… so quick, so nutritious.
Looking forward to trying more of your recipes. :)
What an awesome comment to wake up to this morning! Thank you Kate! I agree about quinoa salads! You can put anything you like in them, add a little dressing and have a great meal! Thanks so much for taking the time to let me know!
YUM!!! Anyone looking at this recipe and wondering if you should try it. DO IT! Made it last night and want to eat it for every meal.
So good, already want to take it to every potluck I go to.
Awww…Clair! You have no idea how happy your comment just made me! I’m so happy you liked it as much as I do! Thank you so much for taking the time to stop in and comment! You’re so sweet! :D