Cowboy Caviar Quinoa Salad

This Cowboy Caviar Quinoa Salad is naturally vegan, gluten free, and so delicious. It has all the flavors you’ll love and is super easy to make for dinner, lunch, or meal prep. Enjoy and try it now!

Quinoa is something I’ve always come back to in my salads, like this Quinoa Taco Salad [vegan, gf].

If you’re looking for more easy quinoa recipes, look no further and just type “quinoa” into the search bar and explore many delicious recipe from there.

I have to admit for real, friends, if there is something I could eat almost every day, this it is.

By now I hope you’re are truly excited for this Cowboy Caviar Quinoa Salad.

It’s hearty, protein rich, fresh, healthy, super easy, seriously delicious, crowd pleasing.

Also satisfying, filling, versatile from the basic you can always add some optional add ons to make it your own rotation.

So many options but to be clear it will turn out always delicious.

What is cowboy caviar

Cowboy caviar is a showstopper for everyone who loves hearty dips. It’s made with beans, corn, and often you will find lime juice and olive oil as part of the dressing.

You can eat it with your favorite chips or on bread. I could imagine it can be also great with carrot or celery sticks.

I do something different. I add optional orange juice to the Italian dressing which gives that Cowboy Caviar Quinoa subtle refreshing notes, which I find takes that dressing to another whole level.

It’s totally optional but I would definitely recommend it, just lovely.

What is in Italian dressing

I found my Italian dressing at a local store and it was naturally dairy free and plant based.

Most dressings in the store are, so have a look at the ingredient list.

Italian dressing is made with oil, vinegar, herbs, lemon juice.

So if you can’t find it, it’s super easy to know how to make Italian Dressing. Just whip, oil, vinegar, herbs, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and maybe some garlic powder, together. Mix, ready.

How to make Cowboy Caviar Quinoa Salad

First cook your quinoa. You will need to wash and drain it.

I often add for 1 cup uncooked quinoa 3,5 cups water but any quinoa is different, so always check the package directions for accurate measures.

But for me it’s the right amount.

While the quinoa is cooking, prepare the salad: drain cooked beans, corn, and mix with cooked quinoa.

If you want to incorporate some optional add ons just choose and add them all:

Mix beans with optional chopped tomatoes, bell pepper, onions, avocado cubes, and cooked quinoa.

Finally and last: make the dressing by combining the Italian dressing with minced garlic and the optional spices such as cumin, chili powder and orange juice.

Toss in the salad and divide on plates or bowls.

This makes such an amazing dinner, lunch, meal preparation, or work lunch.

Really filling and delicious on it’s own. But if you feel like to serve something along with it I guess it’s really good with these Vegan Cream Cheese Taquitos.

I would say it’s even great for parties, get togethers, potlucks, and of course date nights.

As I mentioned I would happily eat this every day without getting bored or tired of it.

I made this several times for me and friends and no one ever missed the meat or something else.

It’s a keeper for everybody, seriously what’s not to love about it?

Vegan party food

If you’re planning a party or get together it might be a bit overwhelming to find the best options.

Especially if your guests are big meat eaters. But trust me here is my best advice to choose food everyone will love.

No matter what diet direction he or she belongs:

Choose filling options. No kale chips or healthy smoothie bowls. Keep it real so no one will miss the meat or dairy.

Always go for big flavor. Trust me, flavors make any dish better and are so satisfying, like this totally vegan and gluten free Vegetarian White Chili.

Provide a great variety of dishes that you can make in advance aka meal prep. So you can save a bunch of time and your guests will be always happy.

Go for dishes with great texture and protein like adding beans think black, kidney beans and so one.

For desserts use really rich ingredients like coconut oil or nut butter so no one will ever miss the butter, sour cream or anything else in regular baking dishes.

Make your guests curious about the dishes. Assemble them with lots of herbs in savory dishes. This will give them a bit fancier and prettier look.

For desserts, in my experience if I have non vegan guests they are always really excited to try. Hint: don’t tell them before it’s a plant based dessert.

If you give this Cowboy Caviar Quinoa Salad a try, give me a tag on Instagram and Facebook.

Love seeing all your remakes.

Cheers, Florian.