This amazingly tasty and healthy salad with vibrant colors - red, orange, black and green, is loaded with vitamins and minerals. Quinoa and black beans are also full of protein with all the essential amino acids. The texture and flavor of crunchy red peppers, hearty black beans, snappy green onions, fresh cilantro and sweet mango combine perfectly. With every bite, new flavors emerge. Quinoa is a nutty grain from South America.

Ingredients

1 cup quinoa

2 cups water

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup mango diced

1 red bell pepper, chopped

2 green onions, sliced

1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 tsp lime juice

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Toast quinoa in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring continuously until crackles and becomes aromatic about 5 minutes. Transfer to a fine sieve and rinse thoroughly. Return the quinoa to the pot and add water. Bring to a simmer; reduce heat. Cover and cook until the quinoa is tender and the liquid has been absorbed, for about 15 minutes.

2. In a large bowl, combine quinoa, black beans, mango, bell pepper, green onions and cilantro.

3. In a separate small bowl, whisk olive oil and lime juice to make salad dressing.

4. Drizzle over quinoa salad and toss to distribute evenly.

5. Add salt and pepper to taste. Chill and serve.