Colorful Shrimp and Quinoa Salad
I’ve mentioned this before, but I’ll say it again. Hubby spoils me. He packs my lunch every morning before work while I’m getting ready. It works out well since we ride to work together. So every morning, he packs me all sorts of healthy snacks to keep me full throughout the day.
I love eating salads for lunch. I usually go with this Massaged Kale Salad with Pear and Pumpkin Seeds. But sometimes I like to mix things up. I was browsing foodgawker and this recipe caught my eye. Lucky for me, we had all of the ingredients on hand!
This Colorful Shrimp and Quinoa Salad kept well in the fridge and did a good job of keeping me full in to the afternoon. I loved the punch of sweetness provided by the pomegranate arils.
One Year Ago: Short Rib Ragu
Three Years Ago: Chicken Sausage, Spinach, Tomato and Goat Cheese Quiche
Colorful Shrimp and Quinoa Salad
Shrimp, black beans, and quinoa mixed up to make a great healthy salad
Yield: Serves 4-5
Ingredients:
For the Salad
1 lb steamed shrimp
1/2 cup dry quinoa
1/3 cup red onion, chopped
1 orange, peeled and segments chopped
1 avocado, chopped
1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup pomegranate arils (about 1 pomegranate worth)
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
salt & pepper
For the Dressing
2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, microplaned or finely minced
dash of sugar
salt & pepper
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Directions:
For the Salad
Cook quinoa according to package directions. Set aside to cool.
Combine cooled quinoa with shrimp, red onion, orange segments, avocado, beans, pomegranate arils, cilantro, salt and pepper.
For the Dressing
Add lemon juice, garlic, sweetener, salt and pepper into a small bowl and whisk in oil.
Pour dressing over the salad and stir to combine. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Recipe adapted from Iowa Girl Eats
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
This dish sounds great! I love sweet potatoes and black beans together, and the cilantro and lime sound like the perfect flavor additions.
My fiance isn’t the biggest fan of beans so I try to “sneak” them into dishes and this looks a great recipe to try out!
I absolutely adore sweet potatoes but wud have never thought of flavoring them with cilantro and lime. This sounds like it would turn out super delicious.
We always have black beans in the house too and they are just perfect with sweet potatoes too – yum!
Oh dear, I never thought of pairing these 4 fave flavors together. Amazing : )
Yum! I love black beans and I also love that they are super good for you. I think this would be an awesome quick weeknight dinner!
perfect combo of tastes. I would love to try this one.
Mmmm what a refreshing twist on sweet potatoes! These sound hearty and delicious!
What a great recipe and beautiful photo. Black beans and sweet potatoes (and cilantro, for that matter!) are a couple of my favorite foods, so I know that I’d love this!
Yum! I love black beans in salads. This sounds great!
And great pictures, too!
Made a half recipe and loved it hot or cold! Took to a work pot luck and a hit with everyone. Thanks for another great recipe.