Should I rinse quinoa?

It depends; some packaged quinoa is sold as “pre-rinsed,” and I don’t find it necessary to rinse it again. If you notice your cooked quinoa has a soapy or bitter taste, rinse it before cooking 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.

What kind of quinoa should I use for the bean and quinoa salad?

White or tri-color quinoa works well in this salad. I haven't tested the recipe using only red or black quinoa, but they should work too. Red quinoa has a chewier and even nuttier flavor compared to white quinoa. Black quinoa has an earthier flavor with a slight sweetness. Tricolor quinoa is just a mixture of white, red, and black.

How do I keep vegan quinoa salad from getting watery?

To keep quinoa salad from getting watery, let the quinoa cool completely before mixing it with the vegetables and draining any excess liquid after the quinoa is done cooking. It also helps to drain the beans and corn well, and if your tomatoes are very juicy, remove some of the seeds before adding them.

Zesty Quinoa Salad with Black Beans - Three Little Chickpeas

Description

This zesty quinoa salad is bright, fresh, and bursting with lime-cilantro flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

½ 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
1 red bell pepper, diced
¼ cup red onion, finely diced
1 jalapeño, finely diced
¼ cup cilantro, finely chopped
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
½ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
1 ripe avocado, diced

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Instructions

Cook the rinsed quinoa according to the instructions on the package.
When the quinoa is done, remove from heat, let it sit covered for 5 minutes, fluff with a fork, and cool to room temperature before adding it to the salad.
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: 15 minutes
Category: main course
Method: stovetop
Cuisine: American