Tropical Mango Avocado Quinoa Salad (Print Version)

Vibrant tropical salad with sweet mango, creamy avocado, protein-rich quinoa, and zesty lime dressing.

# 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 or honey
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How to Make It:

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 or honey, 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.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It comes together in about 35 minutes, meaning lunch can feel fancy without keeping you tied to the kitchen.
  • The lime dressing is so addictive you'll find yourself making extra just to drizzle over other things.
  • It's naturally vegan and gluten-free without tasting like you're missing anything at all.
02 -
  • Don't add the avocado until the last possible moment—I learned this lesson by making a brown, oxidized salad that tasted fine but looked sad.
  • The dressing is where all the flavor lives, so don't skimp on it or skip the cumin; it's the secret that makes people wonder what they're tasting.
03 -
  • Roll your limes firmly on the counter before squeezing them—this breaks down the internal membranes and gives you significantly more juice without pressing harder.
  • Taste the salad before serving and add lime juice or salt incrementally; with avocado and sweet mango, it's easy to underseaseason and end up with something that tastes flat.
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