Hearty Tropical Black Bean Mango Quinoa

Don’t you just love recipes that you can make over and over again, but never get sick of?

That’s how this recipe fits into my life.

It’s made its way into my weekly meal rotation for my meatless goals that I set this year, and I am never going to get rid of it.

I know that some people feel that the idea of “Meatless Mondays” is a little overrated or played up too much, but as a serious carnivore, I really love the idea.

It gives me a chance at least once a week not only to cut out meat, but to get a little creative with my dinners. I can feel good about getting my protein from alternate sources, but I can also use the opportunity to experiment with flavors I might not usually try.

That’s why this dish really stands out and has made it into the rotation on a weekly basis. Who would think that mango could really bring out the best of a dish made with quinoa and black beans?

I love the combination of all the hearty and zesty ingredients that you’ll find in every single bite. You get the heartiness from the pseudograin, and the rich black beans. Plus, they both contain plenty of protein.

Then there’s the combination of seasonings. I use simple ones like garlic powder and cayenne pepper that you’ll already find on your spice rack. They might seem small, in quantity at least, but they are truly mighty. The mix brings a balance to the other ingredients in the recipe, plus a hint of spice.

And the juicy mango and the lime really wake everything up.

This side or vegetarian main is citrusy and tangy, so you don’t just get a big bite of hearty richness. There’s a balance to this dish, and that’s the most important piece of the dinner puzzle.

You want to make sure you are getting those sweet, salt, acid, and heat elements in order to make the recipe taste well-rounded. And the magic of this dish is that it’s also quite versatile.

You can eat it on its own, but it also works really well as a filler for burrito bowls, or straight up burritos. You can add it to tacos, whip up creative enchiladas with the leftovers, and eat it straight up for lunch the next day. I’ve even used it as an interesting and hearty garnish on top of black bean soup.

This recipe serves two as a main dish, but it can also serve four as a side. And if you decide that this won’t be a meatless meal when you’re figuring out how to use up leftovers, trust me when I say that it works as a great round-two recipe alongside a grilled meat like chicken or pork.

You can also make this recipe as part of your weekly meal prep because it lasts really well in the refrigerator when it’s stored in airtight containers. Again, you can get creative with how you eat it, or you can simply eat it straight out of the bowl.

What could be easier than that?

Black Bean and Mango Tropical Quinoa

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• Author: Meghan Yager
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 2 servings 1x

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Description

Grain dishes don’t have to be boring. To prove it, make this hearty and tropical black bean mango quinoa recipe this week.

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Ingredients

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• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 medium mango, peeled and diced (about 1 cup)
• 1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 teaspoon lime zest
• 2 teaspoon fresh lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

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Instructions

1. Place quinoa in a fine mesh sieve and rinse well with water.
2. Place 2 cups water in a medium saucepan and add rinsed quinoa and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and continue cooking for about 15 minutes, or until quinoa is cooked through and water is absorbed. Set aside for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork..
3. Place olive oil, mango, black beans, lime zest, juice, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne into a large bowl. Add cooked quinoa and stir to combine. Add cilantro and stir again.  
4. Serve immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Side Dish
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Vegetarian

Keywords: vegetarian, gluten-free, quinoa, pseudograin, mango, black bean

Cooking By the Numbers…

Step 1 – Prep and Measure Ingredients

Peel mango and remove the flesh from the pit. Dice the fruit and set it aside.

Strain the black beans in a colander and rinse with cold water. Drain well and set aside.

Zest enough lime until you have 1 teaspoon. I used about 1 small lime for this, and made quick work of it with my microplane.

Use the same lime to get the 2 teaspoons of lime juice that you need.

Chop enough cilantro leaves until you have 1/4 cup total.

Measure out all remaining ingredients as listed on the ingredients list.

Step 2 – Cook Pseudograins

It’s true, quinoa is actually a seed. But it’s often used like a grain in cooking, and is what’s commonly referred to as a “pseudograin.”

Add it to a fine mesh sieve. Rinse it well with water to remove the bitter saponins that naturally occurs on each seed. You only need a quick rinse to accomplish this. Check your package, since it may already be pre-rinsed.

Add 2 cups water to a medium saucepan. Add rinsed quinoa and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low.

Cover and cook for 15 minutes, until soft and cooked through.

When all of the water is absorbed and it is tender, remove from heat and set aside for 5 minutes. Fluff with the fork.

Step 3 – Finish and Serve or Refrigerate

While the quinoa is cooking, add the olive oil, mango, black beans, lime zest, juice, remaining salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne to a large bowl. Stir to combine.

Stir in the cooked quinoa until combined. Stir in the cilantro and serve immediately.

This dish can also be stored for a few days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

About Meghan Yager

Meghan Yager is a food addict turned food and travel writer with a love for creating uncomplicated, gourmet recipes and devouring anything the world serves up. As the author of the food and travel blog Cake 'n Knife, Meghan focuses on unique foodie experiences from around the world to right at home in your own kitchen.

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