Avocado, Corn, Cilantro & Lime Quinoa Salad

We've been making some positive food changes lately along with rejoining the gym after a 6 year period of not working out since having kids. Yep instead of crash dieting/fasting I've decided to become healthy the "right" way. There's not going to be a super strict "diet", because I lose weight then gain it right back with those, It's getting old....blah I don't like talking about it.

The difference now is I just want myself and my family to all be healthy and not a specific size or weight. I also can't just eat plain protein and veggies forever. I love food, parties, cooking, and bright flavors too much.

This recipe has veggies, high protein grain, and just as important... It tastes wonderful!

I've had quinoa before at restaurants and for some reason thought it would be difficult to cook, but in reality it's easy just like rice.

This salad was adapted by one I had pinned from a beautiful blog called Eating For England. Her's had black beans, but I had pinto beans in my pantry. I also added corn, used less onion, forgot the garlic.

Here is exactly what I used:

1 cup dry quinoa, rinsed

1 tbsp olive oil 

1 3/4 cup water

(Toast the dry quinoa over med heat for 2-4 min with the oil, then add water, and simmer for 20 min til it cooks through.)

1 can pinto or black beans, drained and rinsed

1 avocado, chopped into chunks

2 small tomatoes chopped

1/4 red onion, diced

1 red bell pepper, chopped 

small handful cilantro, diced

Dressing (whisk together):

1 lime, juiced

1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 tbsp olive oil

salt, to taste

Once you toss it all together it takes a few minutes for all the flavor to soak in. It's actually even better the next day! And we actually added grilled chicken (not pictured) to it and made it a meal.

My husband and I both loved this salad and I'm sure you will too!

The next day I took this treat to a BBQ and it was a big hit. It's just low cal angel food cake, fresh strawberries, and a little drizzled Nutella. I melted a few tablespoons in a glass dish for 10 sec in the microwave, then drizzled.

Perfect end of the week treat!

Do you love cooking with Quinoa? 

Joining:

Foodie Friday @ Momtrends

Create and Inspire party @ Little Creativity