For months I’ve been saying “You can substitute Feta if you don’t have Cotija.”
And now I can finally say “You can substitute Cotija if you don’t have Feta.”
That’s what happens when your kitchen is brimming with Mexican cooking ingredients — they find ways to improve other dishes that aren’t typically labeled ‘Mexican’.
That’s the case here with this Quinoa Avocado Salad. You can also sneak a jalapeno into the Lime-Cilantro Dressing and you’ve quickly achieved that elusive quinoa combo: healthy and delicious.
Quinoa Avocado Salad with Lime-Cilantro Dressing Recipe
Quinoa was harvested for human consumption starting about three thousand years ago in the Andean region of South America. It’s been a global ambassador for the plant family ever since; Chenopodium Quinoa. (Awesome article on the health benefits of quinoa.)
But it’s got some decidedly human characteristics as well:
It’s picky about who it works with. It prefers to co-exist with those who complement it. And it has disdain for those who try to compete with its unique flavor.
If you’re cooking the quinoa, add 1 cup of rinsed quinoa to 2 cups of water (or stock!) along with 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil and then let simmer until all the liquid is absorbed, about 10-12 minutes.
(Note that this dish tastes best when the quinoa is chilled, so if you are serving it soon then once cooked you can set it in the fridge for a bit.)
Take a taste of the cooked quinoa….it’s already got a surprisingly complete flavor right?
Now add a few quinoa-approved fresh ingredients….
…..and you’ve got a meal that is off the charts healthy and can nearly be eaten on its own.
Nearly.
Adding a tart dressing seems to be the perfect complement to the dominant flavor of the quinoa.
Combine 1/4 cup of olive oil, the juice of one lime, one garlic clove, 1/2 jalapeno, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 10-15 sprigs of cilantro in a blender or food processor.
Taste for seasoning and add more salt (or jalapeno) to the dressing. The zip from the jalapeno livens up the room and its inclusion in the salad was instantly approved by the boss (quinoa). Note: you could also consider using this Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette Dressing.
Mix all the fresh ingredients together.
And now here’s your chance Cotija lovers!
Sprinkle as much Cotija on top as you want (or you can substitute Feta!), along with another round of fresh avocado if desired.
Drizzle with the Lime-Cilantro Dressing, leaving plenty in reserve for quickly approaching future bites.
And with that final coating of Lime-Cilantro goodness, the mercurial quinoa would like you to know that it feels happy, alive, and thrilled that its full potential is bursting into the world.
Buen Provecho.
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa (2+ cups cooked)
- 1/2 avocado
- 1 Roma tomato
- 1 cup chopped spinach
- Cotija cheese (or Feta)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- juice of 1 lime (1Tablespoon+)
- 1/2 jalapeno pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 garlic clove
- 10-15 sprigs cilantro
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If you are cooking the quinoa, rinse 1 cup quinoa and add to a saucepan along with 2 cups water (or stock) and 1/2 teaspoon salt
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Bring to a boil, reduce heat and let simmer until the liquid is absorbed, 10-12 minutes
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Set quinoa aside and if serving soon, put it in the fridge to cool it down
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Meanwhile, finely chop half an avocado, 1 Roma tomato, and 1 cup spinach
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For the dressing, add 1/4 cup olive oil to a blender or food processor along with the juice of 1 lime, 1/2 jalapeno pepper, 1 garlic clove, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 10-15 sprigs cilantro
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Pulse blend and taste for heat and seasoning. If desired, you can a bit more jalapeno or salt
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Combine the quinoa, tomato, avocado and spinach in a bowl.
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Garnish with cheese (Cotija!) and additional avocado if you want
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Drizzle Lime-Cilantro dressing over the top
This tastes best when the quinoa is chilled. If you are cooking the quinoa you can put it in the fridge for a bit before serving.
You've also got the option of blending any remaining avocado into the dressing. This creates a creamier, less tart dressing that is equally delicious.
Like this dish? Then you’ll probably like our Avocado Hummus Tostadas.
And our Spicy Kale and Quinoa Salad.
super pics and can’t wait to make this next week…just gotta find some cotija
This is a delicious dish and works well for dinner as a main dish. I just made it tonight. I found maybe my quinoa was a bit salty but also that could be because I would lots of cotija cheese in the salad and maybe that was a salt double whammy. Also I had question about quinoa cooking…do I let it simmer with a lid on or lid off? I get confused about cooking quinoa..is it like rice this way or better to have the steam come out? thanks for the super recipe..
Thanks for your notes Chloe, they are super helpful.
Yup Cotija is definitely salty and if you know you will be gobbling it up then 1/4 teaspoon of salt per one cup of quinoa would be adequate.
And regarding the lid, I cook it the same way I cook rice: lid off during the simmer, then once liquid absorbed turn heat off, cover, and let sit in its own steam for a few minutes BUT you will get lots of opinions on the best way to cook it. Here are some helpful notes to consider:
http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-quinoa-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-63344
They use lower heat and a lid during the cooking and this should work just as well. Cheers 🙂
Looks like a great and refreshing salad! Quick question – any substitutes that you can recommend for the jalapeno? Not a fan of anything too spicy 🙁
Thanks Valerie!
Anaheims and Green Peppers have very little heat, but I’m not convinced they would work in this dressing. You can scrape out the seeds and ribs of the jalapeno and use only 1/4 of the jalapeno if you want to dial the heat way down.
To avoid heat altogether I think I would just omit the jalapeno without substituting anything else and dial back on the lime juice. The jalapeno counters the tartness of the lime. Without it I would start with the juice of 1/2 lime and take a taste, adjusting from there. If too tart I would add additional cilantro. If too oily I would add more lime juice.
Thanks for stopping by, hope it treats you well 🙂
Thanks so much! I think I’ll try to scrape everything out and use a little bit of the jalapeno.
OK, I think that will probably work for you. Cheers 🙂
Patrick, you never cease to amaze me with your incredible Mexican food recipes! The colors are just gorgeous! I’m loving the sound of a quinoa salad–especially topped with this awesome lime cilantro dressing. YUM!
Hola Demeter! Thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate it. Especially coming from a photog expert like you 🙂