Southwest quinoa salad with avocado dressing

This vegetarian southwest quinoa salad is super simple and delicious. Mexican spiced quinoa with veggies, cotija cheese, and a spicy avocado dressing. YUM!

This southwest quinoa salad post was originally published in August 2015 and was updated in July 2019.

DOUBLE RAINBOW OH MY GOD! JK guys. That’s not ACTUALLY a double rainbow. Sure is pretty like a rainbow though eh? This southwest quinoa salad with green chile avocado dressing is another one of my “it’s way too freakin hot to cook” recipes. Also, I busted out my mini-food processor from a box just to make this for you. So there ya go.

Well, today I am at a wedding (or will be when this post hits!), my BFFs wedding! Getting all gussied up in a cabin on the water. Wondering how I am going to give a heartfelt, yet funny speech to hundreds of people WITHOUT getting too wasted first. It’s basically impossible. The alcohol calms my nerves, WAIT…… THE ALCOHOL MAKES ME CRY! Oh god. What am I doing?

See? The stress you guys. Of someone ELSE’S wedding. EGADS!

OK OK enough of my rambles. Should we discuss this salad? Since this is, you know, a food blog post about salad? Oooooooooohkay.

DOUBLE RAINBOW OH MY GOD!

Heh. Seriously now, this is really one awesome salad. That’s not red quinoa up there! That’s white quinoa cooked in Southwest spices. Oh yes. Red New Mexico chile powder and cumin create a super spiced protein in the quinoa. I was sort of trying to mimic that heavily spiced ground taco beef that’s normally in taco salads, but you know, healthy, and vegetarian.

It worked.

This quinoa, although too heavily spiced on it’s own, totally kills it mixed with all the other goodness going on.

Aaaaaaaaand you can’t do Southwest without green chiles! I spent about a week in New Mexico a few years ago, and those peeps LUUUV their green chiles. It’s on ERRRRRRYTHING! Green chile ice cream anyone?

So, between the quinoa “taco meat,” the creamy green chile avocado dressing, and the fresh summery veggies, this Southwest quinoa salad hit it out of the park. Totes delicious.

Print

Southwest quinoa salad with avocado dressing

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

30 mins

 

This vegetarian southwest quinoa salad is super simple and delicious. Mexican spiced quinoa with veggies, cotija cheese, and a spicy avocado dressing. YUM!

Course: entree, Main Course, Salad

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Keyword: vegetarian

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 323 kcal

Author: Trish Bozeman

Ingredients

FOR THE QUINOA

• 1 Tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
• 1 Tbsp New Mexico chile powder or other chile powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup dry quinoa

FOR THE AVOCADO DRESSING

• 1 large avocado, pitted and peeled
• 1 Tbsp sour cream
• 2 Tbsp canned green chiles
• 2 medium limes, juiced
• 1/3 cup water
• salt and pepper

FOR THE SALAD

• 2 ears corn, kernels removed from the cob
• 1/2 can black beans, rinsed and patted dry
• 1 medium yellow bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cop chopped green onion
• 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese
• 1 large handful of fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 4 slices fresh lime for serving (optional)

Instructions

FOR THE QUINOA

1. In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium high heat. Add the 1 Tbsp chile powder and 1/2 tsp cumin, and toast until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add 1 cup water and the 1/2 cup of dry quinoa. Stir and increase heat to high. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside.

FOR THE AVOCADO DRESSING

1. Meanwhile, combine the avocado, 1 Tbsp of sour cream, 2 Tbsp of green chiles, the lime juice from both limes, and ⅓ cup water in a food processor. Blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste and blend in.

FOR THE SALAD

1. In a large serving bowl, combine quinoa, corn, beans, bell pepper, green onion, cheese, cilantro, and tomatoes. Toss with dressing and season with salt and pepper to taste.

2. Serve with lime slices to squeeze onto salad. (optional)

Nutrition Facts

Southwest quinoa salad with avocado dressing

Amount Per Serving

Calories 323 Calories from Fat 153

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 17g 26%

Saturated Fat 5g 25%

Cholesterol 18mg 6%

Sodium 493mg 21%

Potassium 739mg 21%

Total Carbohydrates 35g 12%

Dietary Fiber 10g 40%

Sugars 3g

Protein 11g 22%

Vitamin A 20.8%

Vitamin C 95.3%

Calcium 14.7%

Iron 18.8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Alrighty, wish me luck with my speech!

If you make this recipe, please let me know on social media or in the comments below! Leave a star rating in your comment or tag me on Instagram with #Rhubarbarians.

Thank you so much for reading and supporting Rhubarbarians and the brands that I recommend. If you’re looking for a group of people cooking vegetarian recipes through the seasons, join us on Facebook in our vegetarian and vegan recipes group!

Hope you enjoy this veggie loaded salad!

Trish

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