Are you looking for a simple but healthy recipe that is loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables? Then check out this recipe for quinoa black bean burrito bowls with homemade salsa and guacamole! All you need to do to make this recipe is boil a pot of quinoa and slice up some fresh fruits and veggies.
This recipe for quinoa black bean burrito bowls is gluten free, vegetarian, egg free, and nut free. This is also a great recipe for anyone who is into meal prep. It reheats well and is easy to make in bulk.
Are burrito bowls healthy?
Are burrito bowls healthy? The exact answer to this question will depend on who prepared the burrito bowls and what ingredients they used to make them. In general burrito bowls are a healthy option. This is especially true when you prepare the burrito bowls at home and can control what goes into them. Burrito bowls are loaded with fresh fruits, vegetables, and legumes such as tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, onion, garlic, avocado, corn, and beans.
These black bean quinoa burrito bowls are very healthy! These burrito bowls are made with quinoa rather than rice. Quinoa is higher in protein and fiber than rice so it is a great option for anyone who is looking for a healthier alternative to rice. These black bean quinoa burrito bowls are also loaded with fresh fruits and veggies in the form of fresh guacamole and homemade salsa.
What is in this black bean quinoa burrito bowl?
What is in this black bean quinoa burrito bowl? Here are the main ingredients in this healthy burrito bowl.
- Quinoa. Quinoa is a great option for anyone who is looking for a healthier alternative to white rice! Quinoa is higher in protein and fiber than rice and it is also packed with nutrients and antioxidants. One serving of quinoa has 4 – 5 times the amount of fiber as one serving of white rice so it will fill you up much faster than rice will.
- Black beans. Black beans should be a staple in any vegetarian diet! The black beans contribute protein, fiber, and nutrients to this vegetarian bowl. If you want to make your black bean quinoa burrito bowl extra healthy you should use low sodium or no sodium added black beans.
- Homemade salsa. This burrito bowl is topped with a zesty homemade salsa that is made with loads of fresh fruits and vegetables. Tomatoes, red onions, lime, and jalapeños are just a few of the ingredients that are used in this healthy salsa recipe.
- Easy guacamole. Fresh avocados are mashed and mixed with chopped tomatoes and onions to make a quick & easy guacamole. A squirt of lime is added to balance the creaminess of the avocados out with some acidity.
- Cheese. A combination of sharp cheddar and cream cheese is used to give these black bean burrito bowls a mixture of creamy & cheesy flavors.
What is in the homemade salsa?
This quinoa black bean burrito bowl is topped with a fresh and zesty homemade salsa. This salsa is packed with fresh veggies and contributes huge amounts of flavor and nutritional value to the burrito bowl. What is in this homemade salsa?
- Tomatoes. Tomatoes for the base of this homemade salsa. The tomatoes contribute some sweetness and some acidity to the salsa.
- Red onion. Red onions contribute to the fresh, zesty flavor of this salsa. It is better to use red onions than white onions in fresh salsa because raw red onions have a more mild flavor than raw white onions.
- Jalapeños. Jalapeños are used in this salsa to add a little bit of spice. If you do not have jalapeños you can use another spicy pepper such as habaneros. If you do not want your salsa to be spicy you can also use a little bit of a sweet pepper such as a red bell pepper.
- Lime. The lime juice contributes to the acidity and zesty flavor of the salsa.
- Garlic. A small amount of raw garlic is added to this salsa to give a little bit of a bite to the salsa. Make sure to cut the garlic extra small so that it gets distributed evenly throughout the salsa.
- Green onions. Green onions contribute a little bit extra crunch to the salsa. It is best to use the light green parts at the base of the onion.
- Salt & pepper. As always, this salsa recipe is rounded out with a little bit of salt and pepper to enhance the flavor of the other ingredients.
How to reheat a burrito bowl
You can easily reheat these black bean quinoa burrito bowls in the microwave. To reheat these burrito bowls you should microwave them for 90 – 120 seconds on full power. Here are a few extra tips to make your leftover black bean quinoa burrito bowls taste even better!
- Store cold ingredients separately from the warm ingredients. For best results you should store the quinoa, black beans, cream cheese, and cheese in a separate container from the other ingredients. This is because the salsa does not need to be heated up and is best served cold. If you store the warm ingredients and the cold ingredients in different containers it is easy to pop only the ingredients you want to heat up in the microwave.
- Consider making fresh guacamole. The guacamole will start to turn brown as time passes. For best results you should make fresh guacamole each time you eat this meal. If you do not have time to make fresh guacamole the mashed avocado will keep in the refrigerator for a day or two.
- Do not salt the salsa ahead of time. The salsa will taste increasingly salty the longer it is left to marinate in salt. If you know you are going to make enough salsa to make leftovers you should either refrain from adding the salt to the salsa or wait to sprinkle on some salt once you have added the salt to your bowl.
Quinoa black bean burrito bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- 15 oz black beans (one standard sized can)
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 1/2 tbsp cream cheese
Easy guacamole
- 2 small avocados
- 1 tbsp chopped red onion
- 1/2 tomato
- 1 tsp lime juice
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 pinch salt
Homemade salsa
- 6 tomatoes
- 4 stalks Green onion
- 2 tsp lime juice
- 1 jalapeno
- 1/4 red onion
- 2 clove garlic
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Add 1 cup of dried quinoa and 2 cups of water to a medium sized pot over medium high heat. Wait until the water boils then reduce the heat to low or medium low. Put a lid on the pot and let the quinoa simmer for 15 - 20 minutes. While the quinoa cooks you can start chopping the ingredients for the salsa.
- Chop all of the ingredients for the salsa into fine pieces and combine them in a medium sized bowl. It is important to finely chop the salsa ingredients so you get a little bit of each ingredient in each mouthful.
- Mash the avocado and chop the tomato and onion for the guacamole. Combine all of the ingredients for the guacamole in a medium sized bowl.
- Mix the cheese and cream cheese together then add the quinoa, black beans, cheese, and cream cheese to individual servings bowls. Microwave each bowl for 45 - 60 seconds to melt the cheese and warm the beans. If you do not want to microwave the bowls individually you can also microwave the beans in a large bowl and let the heat of the freshly cooked quinoa and beans melt the cheese. The cheese might not melt all of the way but it will still taste delicious.
- Top the quinoa, beans, and cheese with the salsa and guacamole then serve.
Substitutions for burrito bowls
- Red onion. If you do not have red onion you can use white onion to make the salsa and guacamole. It is best to use red onions when possible because they have a more mild flavor with less of a bite but white onions will work as well.
- Jalapeños. If you do not have jalapeños you can use another type of spicy pepper. If you do not want your salsa to be spicy you can use red bell pepper rather than a spicy pepper. Any type of pepper will work!
- Sharp cheddar cheese. If you prefer mild flavored cheese you can replace the sharp cheddar cheese with a more mild cheese like Monterey jack or even pepper jack.
Our favorite Mexican inspired recipes
These Mexican street corn bowls are another great option for anyone who is looking for a vegetarian-inspired grain bowl. These bowls are topped with creamy esquites, kidney beans, tomatoes, homemade guacamole, and quinoa.
If you are looking for another tasty vegetarian burrito bowl option then you should check out this tofu burrito bowl. This tasty burrito bowl is topped with crispy tofu that is coated in a sweet & spicy chipotle sauce.
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