South Western Quinoa Salad

The good people at Red Pack tomaotes contacted me and sent me some of there wonderful canned tomatoes. This recipe is slightly adapted from Red Pack's recipe.  Visit there website for more delicious recipes and pcik up a can and make some of these fresh delicious salads!

South Western Quinoa Salad
Recipe courtesy of Red Pack Tomatoes

1 cup quinoa cooked
1 – 14 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 – 14 ounce can corn, drained
1- can Red Pack Tomatoes
1/2 of a large red bell pepper
4 green onions, sliced thinly
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Juice from 2 limes
3 tablespoons barbeque sauce

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
for bonus flavor and added heat add a 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne or a chopped pickled jalapeno

In a small bowl whisk together limes, olive oil, garlic powder, barbeque sauce, salt and pepper. Set aside.

Combine cooked quinoa, black beans, corn, tomatoes, bell pepper, green onions,  and cilantro.  Mix in the dressing.  Serve with cilantro sprinkled over top and some lime wedges.

South Western Salad with Pineapple Dressing

Most of the time when I want some recipe or have ingredients to use I do a search.  I either find what I am looking for or I end up combining a bunch of ideas.  This time I could not find anything for the ingredients that I wanted to use.  So, I created my own.  Again, salad dressing is not difficult.  And with a little bit of effort you get a big return.  You could do what I did here with other jams as well- say apricot for instance.  

Southwestern Chop Chop Salad

dressing:
1 half pint pineapple jam, could substitute apricot jam
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup oil

salad:
1 can corn or 2 cups frozen corn
1 tomato chopped
4 scallions, sliced
1 can or 2 cups black beans
5 radishes sliced small
4 cups mesculin mix or romaine

Combine all the salad ingredients in a large salad bowl.

In a blender or a processor add garlic and chop fine before adding other ingredients.  Add jam and blend until it is smooth.  Add white wine vinegar, lemon juice, cumin, and salt. Then while the blender/processor is running add oil and let it whip until it looks totally blended and creamy.

Toss salad with dressing.