Half-and-Half Black Bean and Quinoa Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-09 · Updated 2026-06-09

A vibrant salad combining half cooked quinoa and half black beans tossed in a zesty citrus vinaigrette for refreshing texture and flavor. This Latin American-inspired salad recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs quinoa, black beans (canned, drained, rinsed), red bell pepper 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 250 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 dry quinoa
• 1 cup black beans (canned, drained, rinsed)
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
• 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 2 tbsp orange juice
• 1 tsp honey
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup dry quinoa thoroughly and cook in 2 cups water by bringing to a boil, then simmering covered for 15 minutes until water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and let cool.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, combine the cooled quinoa with 1 cup drained and rinsed black beans, 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper, 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion, and 1/3 cup chopped cilantro.
3. Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp lime juice, 2 tbsp orange juice, 1 tsp honey, 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 3/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until emulsified.
4. Step 4: Pour the citrus vinaigrette over the quinoa mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
5. Step 5: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld before serving chilled or at room temperature.