How do I whip up a spicy southwest quinoa salad?

Add some kick to your meal with our spicy Southwest quinoa salad recipe! It's a flavor-packed dish that will satisfy your craving for bold tastes.

You'll need

Items needed to answer the question, How do I whip up a spicy Southwest quinoa salad. Items include: quinoa red bell pepper yellow bell pepper red onion jalapeno pepper fresh cilantro lime juice olive oil garlic ground cumin chili powder salt black pepper

quinoa 1 cup
red bell pepper 1
yellow bell pepper 1
red onion 1 small
jalapeno pepper 1
fresh cilantro a handful
lime juice 3 tablespoons
olive oil 2 tablespoons
garlic 1 clove
ground cumin 1 teaspoon
chili powder 1/2 teaspoon
salt pinch
black pepper pinch

Take note
Be prepared for some serious flavor explosion! The spiciness of this dish can be adjusted according to your taste, so don't worry if you're not a fan of super hot food. Also, keep in mind that quinoa can take some time to cook, so factor that into your meal preparation.

1

Cook the quinoa

Rinse 1 cup of quinoa under cold water. In a saucepan, combine the quinoa with 2 cups of water and a pinch of salt. Bring it to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 15 minutes until the quinoa is tender. Fluff it with a fork and set it aside to cool.

2

Chop and prepare the veggies

While the quinoa is cooking, chop up 1 red bell pepper, 1 yellow bell pepper, 1 small red onion, and 1 jalapeno pepper. You can remove the seeds from the jalapeno if you prefer less heat. Also, finely chop a handful of fresh cilantro.

3

Make the dressing

In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons of lime juice, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 clove of garlic (minced), 1 teaspoon of ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder, and a pinch of salt and black pepper. Set the dressing aside.

4

Combine everything

In a large bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, chopped veggies, and dressing. Toss everything together until well coated. Feel free to adjust the amount of dressing and spice according to your taste. You can also add a squeeze of fresh lime juice for an extra burst of flavor.

5

Let it chill

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour to let the flavors meld together. This salad is best served chilled, so don't rush this step if you can resist the temptation!