Should I Rinse Quinoa?

It depends, some packaged quinoa is sold as “pre-rinsed.” I don’t find it necessary to rinse them again, but if you noticed your cooked quinoa has a soapy or bitter taste, then rinse it before you cook it next time. If the quinoa is bought in bulk or your package doesn't say "pre-rinsed" it’s a good idea to rinse, especially if you're more sensitive to the saponins that naturally coat quinoa.

Zesty Quinoa Salad with Black Beans - Three Little Chickpeas

Description

This refreshing zesty quinoa salad uses simple ingredients, fresh lime juice, and cilantro to brighten up this black bean quinoa bowl, making it light and flavorful.

Ingredients

Scale

1/2 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
1 cup fresh or frozen corn, thawed if frozen
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
¼ cup red onion, finely diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 jalapeno, finely diced
1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
½ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 avocado, diced

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Instructions

Cook the rinsed quinoa according to the instructions on the package.
Fluff the quinoa and let it cool to room temperature, then mix in the rest of the ingredients.
Stir gently to combine, then taste and adjust seasonings to suit your preferences.

Notes

If prepping ahead of time, wait on adding the avocado until you’re ready to serve.

Rinsing the quinoa may be skipped if the package says "pre-rinsed."

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: main course
Method: stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: zesty quinoa salad, zesty black bean quinoa bowl