Keyword: Beans and legumes, Fruit, Picnics, Salads, Side dishes, Summer
Skill: intermediate
Servings: 1
INGREDIENTS
For the Salad:
1 cup uncooked quinoa
1 cup fresh basil, chopped
½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 ears fresh corn, kernels removed from the cob
4 green onions, chopped
2 mangos, peeled + diced
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained + rinsed
1-2 red Fresno peppers, seeded if desired + chopped
1/3 cup olive oil
¼ cup fresh lime juice
1-2 chipotle chili peppers in adobo, minced
¼ teaspoon cumin
Kosher salt + pepper, to taste
8 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
1 avocado, sliced
For the Toasted Sunflower Seeds:
½ cup raw sunflower seeds
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Kosher salt, to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
For the Salad:
Cook the quinoa according to package directions and then add the cooked quinoa to a large salad bowl. To the quinoa, add the basil, cilantro, corn kernels, green onions, mangos, black beans and Fresno peppers. Give that all a good toss to combine.
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, chipotle chili peppers, cumin and a good pinch of both salt + pepper. Pour the dressing over the quinoa and toss well until the quinoa + veggies are moistened. Top the salad with sliced avocado, crumbled feta and toasted sunflower seeds (recipe below). Salad can be serve warm or cold and made up to 2 days in advance.
For the Toasted Sunflower Seeds:
Heat a large skillet over medium heat; add the sunflower seeds, olive oil and smoked paprika. Toss to combine. Cook the seeds, stirring often until lightly toasted and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Watch close as the seeds can burn fast. Remove from the skillet and sprinkle generously with salt. Add the seeds to the salad.