Southwest Quinoa Taco Salad

This Southwest Quinoa Taco Salad is entirely vegan and gluten free. Perfectly easy to make and packed with amazing flavors with black beans, salsa, and crunchy tortilla chips. Great for lunch, dinner, and an amazing prep meal.

Me and quinoa that’s always a deal. I find you can do nearly anything with that. From a soup as the Mexican Quinoa Tortilla Soup to salads as this new recipe.

 

It’s an amazingly versatile ingredient that is also rich in protein. That makes it such a great source for all us plant based eaters.

On top of all of this, I have a fondness for Mexican flavors. Yup for me it’s everyday food and this Southwest Quinoa Taco Salad is what it’s all about.

Just by looking at this you’ll will be craving a big bowl.

This salad is absolutely satisfying, protein rich, incredibly easy to make, filling, and the best way to bring along to a potluck or get together.

Suitable for all your beach adventures or picnics, definitely the way to go with a big bowl, crunchy, hearty, fresh, colorful and just one excellent eat anytime.

What is quinoa

I’m pretty sure you’ve met quinoa before in your life. But I also know that some of you have never tried it before. It’s definitely time to change. You miss a lot, it’s so good.

Quinoa is a seed, not a grain. It’s a whole protein, contains all nine of the essential amino acids. This is important because your body can’t make it, so you will need it coming from the food.

Also quinoa is naturally gluten free, super versatile, healthy including a high amount of fiber, magnesium, potassium, iron, calcium and delicious. So you get the picture what’s quinoa good for.

What’s in a taco salad

You can basically put whatever you want and like in a taco salad. Basically the traditional version isn’t dairy free or plant based. Often it is made with beef, cheese, a mayo based dressing, sour creme, and the like. Time for a new version.

How to make a Southwest Quinoa Taco Salad

It is as easy as it gets. Combine cooked quinoa, black beans, salsa, and corn.

You can add and mix in the tortilla chips, or have them plain as a side to the salad.

Whatever will do it will turn out delicious.

If you plan to add the other optional add ons, like onions, garlic, taco seasoning, and lime juice go for it. Be creative and add all your favorites.

Note: you will need 3 cups of cooked quinoa, which is approximately 1 cup uncooked quinoa.

This Southwest Quinoa Taco Salad makes an amazing and easy dinner, lunch. It is even a great catch for meal preparation and make ahead meals.

Also it’s a fantastic dish to bring to potlucks, get together, bridal showers, picnics and so much more.

Done in no time and for the basic version you only need 5 easy and simple ingredients. Which means no shopping times, because these are things that you might already store in your pantry.

If you plan ahead, it will stay fresh for up 4 days in the fridge covered.

So you can make the needed batch. I suggest you make a double or triple batch.

Note: If you make this salad ahead, please make sure to leave the tortilla chips out of the mix.

They will get mushy, so add them just before you want to eat. They stay fresh and crunchy.

Sounds like a plan, right?

Show me your results with a tag on Facebook and Instagram with a picture, so I can see all your creations.

See you soon and cheers, Florian.