Citrus-Spiced Black Bean and Quinoa Salad

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-29 · Updated 2026-07-29

A vibrant and refreshing quinoa salad tossed with black beans, citrus zest, and a bright cumin-lime dressing perfect for a healthy meal. This Latin American-inspired gluten-free recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 25 minutes, pairs uncooked quinoa, black beans, rinsed and drained, red bell pepper, diced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with rice, quinoa, or a quick salad. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• 1 1/2 cups black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup red bell pepper, diced
• 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1 tsp orange zest
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

The chef’s knife we’d prep this with → Best Chef's Knives for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup quinoa under cold water. In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil. Add the quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy. Let cool.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups rinsed and drained black beans, 1 cup diced red bell pepper, and 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro.
3. Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup lime juice, 1 tsp ground cumin, 3 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp orange zest until emulsified.
4. Step 4: Add the cooled quinoa to the bean mixture, then pour the citrus dressing over the salad. Toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
5. Step 5: Chill the salad for at least 20 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and enhance the refreshing taste.