3 Bean Quinoa Salad with lime dressing

This 3 bean quinoa salad recipe makes a great side dish - or a meal all on its own! A light lime dressing adds just the right blend of tangy sweetness.

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 15

Total Time 30

Servings

Ingredients

Salad

1 cup quinoa uncooked
2 cups water
½ lb. green beans trimmed
15.5 oz. navy beans low sodium can, rinsed and drained
15.5 oz. pinto beans low sodium can, rinsed and drained
1 cup dark leafy greens chopped finely (pulse in food processor fitted with the S blade), I used beet greens and chard
½ cup baby carrots chopped finely (pulse in food processer fitted with the S blade)
1 cucumber large, peeled and seeded, diced
½ red onion large, diced

Dressing

3 limes
1 Tbsp. mustard (I use Nathan’s Coney Island)
2½ Tbsp. maple syrup

Instructions

Salad

Rinse quinoa if it hasn’t been pre-washed.
Combine quinoa and 2 cups of water in a saucepan, cover and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes or until quinoa is tender. (Check to be sure quinoa doesn't cook dry. If water evaporates before 15 minutes, remove from heat and keep covered.) Let cooked quinoa sit covered for about 5 minutes.
While quinoa is cooking, place beans in a steamer pot and steam for 10 to 15 minutes or until beans are crisp tender. Rinse immediately with cold water.
Combine navy and pinto beans, minced greens and carrots, diced cucumber and onion in a large mixing bowl.
Chop green beans into 1-2 inch pieces and add to mixing bowl.
Add ⅓ of quinoa to mixing bowl and stir to blend. Repeat with remaining quinoa.

Dressing

Juice limes.
Combine lime juice with mustard and maple syrup and stir briskly with a wire whisk. (You could also shake the mixture in a sealed container.)
Pour dressing over salad and mix well.
Serve salad cold or at room temperature.

Notes

Note: Nutrition information is a rough estimate for special dietary needs. I subscribe to the theories presented in the book Whole and believe we should focus on eating a variety of whole foods instead of counting calories or keeping track of individual nutrients.

Nutrition