Stoplight Quinoa Salad

Red, yellow, and green peppers make up this vibrant summer salad from a cooking project at School Within School, a FRESHFARM FoodPrints school partner

Ingredients:

1½ cups uncooked quinoa

¾ cup red onion, peeled and diced

1 red bell pepper, cored and diced

1 yellow bell pepper, cored and diced

1 green bell pepper, cored and diced

*1 jalapeño pepper, trimmed, seeded and diced (optional)

½ cup cilantro, chopped

2 limes, zested and juiced

1 14 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed OR ½ cup dried black beans prepared with the Basic Cooked Beans recipe

3 tbsp. red wine vinegar

5 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

1½ tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. ground coriander

1 tsp. salt

Equipment:

Bowls
Pot with a lid
Measuring spoons and cups
Wire mesh strainer
Cutting board
Kitchen knife
Juicer OR fork
Microplane
Gloves (optional)
Can opener
Jar with a lid OR other container for dressing

Ingredients:

1½ cups uncooked quinoa

¾ cup red onion, peeled and diced

1 red bell pepper, cored and diced

1 yellow bell pepper, cored and diced

1 green bell pepper, cored and diced

*1 jalapeño pepper, trimmed, seeded and diced (optional)

½ cup cilantro, chopped

2 limes, zested and juiced

1 14 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed OR ½ cup dried black beans prepared with the Basic Cooked Beans recipe

3 tbsp. red wine vinegar

5 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

1½ tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. ground coriander

1 tsp. salt

Equipment:

Bowls
Pot with a lid
Measuring spoons and cups
Wire mesh strainer
Cutting board
Kitchen knife
Juicer OR fork
Microplane
Gloves (optional)
Can opener
Jar with a lid OR other container for dressing

Directions:

  1. Measure the quinoa into a bowl, cover with water and give it a stir. Pour into a strainer to remove the liquid.
  2. Add the quinoa to a medium saucepan with 3 cups of water and 1 tsp. salt. Bring to a boil, cover and turn heat to low. Cook for 15 minutes, until the water is absorbed.
  3. Remove the pan from the heat, let sit for at least 10 minutes.
  4. While the quinoa is cooling down, wash and prepare the produce by peeling, dicing, coring, chopping, trimming, seeding, dicing, zesting and juicing them as noted in the ingredients list.
  5. Transfer the quinoa into a large bowl and fluff with a fork.
  6. Add the onion, bell peppers, jalapeño, cilantro and black beans to the bowl and stir to combine.
  7. Add the lime juice and zest, red wine vinegar, olive oil, cumin, coriander and salt to a jar with a lid (or another container) and shake or mix thoroughly.
  8. Pour the dressing over the quinoa mixture. Toss all together and chill before serving.

Note: *Use extreme caution while handling spicy peppers. Use gloves and be sure not to touch your eyes. Wash hands and equipment immediately after handling spicy peppers.