Gluten-Free Vegan Quinoa and Black Bean Salad with Citrus Dressing

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-05 · Updated 2026-08-05

A bright and nutritious vegan salad featuring protein-packed quinoa and black beans tossed in a zesty citrus dressing. This Latin American-inspired salad recipe (vegan, gluten free), ready in about 30 minutes, pairs quinoa, water, black beans into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. 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, rinsed quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1 can (15 oz), drained and rinsed black beans
• 1 medium, diced red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 medium, diced avocado
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp maple syrup
• 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: Combine 1 cup rinsed quinoa and 2 cups water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy. Remove from heat and let cool.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, combine cooled quinoa, 1 can drained and rinsed black beans, 1 diced medium red bell pepper, 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion, and 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro.
3. Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, 3 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp maple syrup, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper until emulsified and fragrant.
4. Step 4: Pour the citrus dressing over the quinoa mixture and toss gently to combine.
5. Step 5: Just before serving, fold in 1 diced medium avocado to keep it fresh and creamy.