Tropical Mango Avocado Quinoa (Printer-friendly)

Fresh mango, creamy avocado, and quinoa combined with lime dressing for a bright, nourishing salad.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 2 cups water

→ Fruits & Vegetables

03 - 1 large ripe mango, peeled and diced
04 - 1 ripe avocado, diced
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
07 - 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
08 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Lime Dressing

09 - 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1 teaspoon maple syrup
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add the rinsed quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and allow to cool completely.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, maple syrup, cumin, salt, and pepper until well combined. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, add the cooled quinoa, mango, avocado, cherry tomatoes, red onion, bell pepper, and cilantro.
04 - Pour the lime dressing over the salad and gently toss to combine, being careful not to mash the avocado.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 40 minutes, so you can have lunch ready before the afternoon heat really sets in.
  • The creamy avocado balances the brightness of lime in a way that makes you feel like you're treating yourself, not just eating healthy.
  • It's naturally vegan and gluten-free without any fussy substitutions or apologies.
02 -
  • Cutting avocado too far ahead means you'll watch it brown and oxidize before your eyes; wait until the last minute, or toss it with a squeeze of lime juice to buy yourself some time.
  • The difference between a good salad and a great one is cold ingredients and a light touch when combining—overworking it breaks down the vegetables and makes everything mushy.
03 -
  • Roll your limes on the counter before cutting them; you'll get more juice and it takes almost no effort.
  • Toast your cumin lightly in a dry pan before adding it to the dressing for a deeper, warmer flavor that feels more intentional.
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