Tex-Mex Black Bean and Quinoa Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-19 · Updated 2026-05-19

A vibrant, protein-packed salad combining black beans, quinoa, and a zesty cilantro lime dressing that brings Texas regional flair to your table. This Latin American-inspired salad recipe (vegetarian, gluten free), ready in about 25 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 280 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 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
• 3 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 small, seeded and minced (optional) jalapeño

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 thoroughly under cold water. In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil, add quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy. Let it cool to room temperature.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, combine the cooled quinoa with 1 can (15 oz) drained and rinsed black beans, 1 diced 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 3 tbsp fresh lime juice, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp ground cumin, 3/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1 minced small jalapeño (optional) until emulsified.
4. Step 4: Pour the dressing over the quinoa mixture and toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated. Chill for 30 minutes before serving for flavors to meld.