Quinoa Burrito Bowl Salad

Recipe: Quinoa Burrito Bowl Salad

Quinoa Burrito Bowl Salad is a healthier way of enjoying burrito without all that extra rice and too many processed sauces. Quinoa replaces the rice, making this salad more protein rich and healthier without compromising on the overall flavour. Usually a burrito is served on a tortilla. Here I have not served any tortilla with the salad bowl. You can always serve it with tortilla chips, ready made or home baked ones. check out my Mexican Bhel recipe for home baked tortilla chips.

Also Sharing This Post With Foodies_Redoing Old Posts

The first time I posted this recipe on 29/08/2016, the photos were not good at all. Also I had used sour cream. Redoing this post on 28/07/2023 with better photos, adding chipotle sour cream and adding a bit of homemade salsa to the quinoa to make it more flavourful.

Memories

Every since I gave birth to my twins, I have been struggling to lose weight. It becomes that much more difficult when in truth I do not enjoy any sports or exercising. I find repetitive exercises boring so am usually not able to stick to any particular regime. I enjoy walking and yoga. But at the same time I am a foodie to the core. However, one thing I do and that is include a hearty salad quite often in our daily diet. Usually most of my salads are wholesome, colourful, flavourful and I try and make the dressings at home.

I may have not lost weight since I first posted this recipe, but 7 years since then and still feel energetic. Touch wood, no illnesses as such except that I have hypothyroidism. I stay away from fizzy drinks, juices out of cartons, bags full of snacks, etc.

What Is Quinoa?

Quinoa (pronounced as keenwah) is not a grain but edible seeds which  originate from the Andean region. Quinoa can be white, red and black. It is also possible to buy the tricolour quinoa. Whenever available, I prefer to use that for salads. Rich in protein, half cup of uncooked quinoa has 8g of it. Quinoa is ideal as a protein source for vegetarians, because it contains all the essential amino acids (protein building blocks) that the body needs. The only other plant that has that unique quality is soy. It is also a rich source of thiamin, vitamin B6, folate, zinc, potassium, magnesium and selenium. Along with that it provides 15% of the daily iron requirement.Easy to cook, quinoa is gluten free.

Some Healthy Wholesome Salad Recipes That You May Like

Quinoa – choose any quinoa of your choice, white, black, red or a mixture. I used red quinoa as that is what I had in my pantry.

Water – to cook the quinoa in.

Tomato Salsa Sauce – to add a bit to the cooked quinoa. Optional. Use homemade or ready made.

Beans – used red kidney beans or black beans, cooked. Use canned or home cooked ones. If you want to cook them at home then it is best to soak the beans in warm water overnight or for 6-8 hours. Bring enough water to boil, add the beans. Add a bit of salt and cook them till done. Alternately, cook them in a pressure cooker for 3 whistles.

Sweet Corn – use fresh, frozen or canned. Boil the fresh or frozen one in some water till done. Usually cooks pretty fast.

Avocado – use one small one.Peel and cut the avocado into slices or cubes.

Onion – use any of your choice, red, white, or yellow. I prefer to use the red ones as they tend to be a bit pungent.

Tomatoes – If you are using large or medium tomatoes, then chop them into bite size pieces. Or use baby tomatoes. Cut them into halves.

Spring Onion – adds flavour and crunch.

Fresh Cilantro/Coriander – for flavour.

Sour Cream – to use as a dressing.

Chipotle Powder – chipotle powder is nothing but smokey dried jalapeno which is powdered. If you don’t have any then use cayenne powder.

Cayenne Powder – to add a bit of heat to the salad. Optional.

Salt – to add to the chipotle sour cream.

Lime – to add to the chipotle sour cream and for the avocado.

Garlic – one clove, peeled and chopped. To add to the chipotle sour cream.

Burrito|Fajita| Taco Seasoning – add some to the chipotle sour cream. I have used ready made burrito seasoning.

Salad Leaves – any of your choice.

Cheese – optional. Use Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Feta or Cojtija.