Lime and Mango Quinoa Salad (Gluten Free)
- January 23, 2020
- Last Updated: July 27, 2023
- 42 Comments
- Recipes
This mango quinoa salad is a refreshing cold summer quinoa salad full of fruits and vegetables. With mango, quinoa, avocado, cucumbers and lime, it’s perfect for any cookout or barbecue!
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I just got back from a ladies’ getaway weekend with my mom and sisters. We went to Montauk (check out what to do in Montauk) to celebrate my mom’s 60th birthday.
We explored the beaches, the town and did some shopping.
Now, I truly feel like summer is here in full force so it’s time to start thinking about quick and easy summer recipes, like this quinoa mango avocado salad.
Today’s summer vegetable quinoa salad is the perfect cold summer salad recipe and makes for a great entree or side dish, along with this cantaloupe salad recipe.
Or, this sweet potato quinoa salad.
Can you tell I love combining fruits and grains? Another great summer option is this vegan couscous salad recipe.
Barbecues, cookouts, cold, summer quinoa salads, grilled meats and fresh veggies, watermelon, pasta salads, grilled corn on the cob, potato salad, ice cream cakes..all of the above scream summer to me.
Summer foods are my favorite. We’ve been loving mango here and recently I found myself thinking about a quinoa and mango salad, so here we are.
Since this salad is so light, I love serving it with this heavier goats cheese pasta bake or even coating it with this basil spinach pesto without nuts.
Ingredients For Mango Quinoa Salad
So, let’s talk about how to make this easy quinoa salad recipe.
First, you’ll gather your ingredients. You’ll need:
- rinsed quinoa
- mango (although I bet baked oranges would also taste great here!)
- cucumber
- lime (you could also use lime juice)
- avocado
- cilantro
- tomato
- olive oil
- cheese (feta works really well)
I happen to really love quinoa salad recipes with feta cheese.
However, if you want to keep this a vegan quinoa salad, leave out the cheese or use a vegan replacement option.
Other Mix In Ideas:
If you happen to be out of some of these ingredients, or just want to switch it up, here are some other ideas and options:
- red onion
- kalamata olives
- red bell pepper
- black beans
- green onion
- pineapple
- chicken, eggs, tempeh, tofu, fish or any source of protein
This quinoa mango avocado salad recipe is such a refreshing combination, with fruits and vegetables! It’s a great option for kids, too.
We love making chicken kabobs on the grill (but they can also be made as oven baked kabobs) and throwing them on here, or even these quinoa pizza bites or lime tahini tempeh.
Why You Should Make This Easy Quinoa Salad
Don’t we all want more quinoa summer salad recipes? I feel like I’m always searching for one, aside from my favorite hummus pasta salad recipe.
That being said, there’s nothing like a cold quinoa salad recipe to bring to your summer barbecues. Mango quinoa salad is a perfect refreshing dish to bring to your next cookout or get-together and can be served room temperature.
Cooked quinoa is a magical little ingredient. Did you know that just a 1/2 cup (dry) serving of quinoa has 12 grams of protein?
Plus, quinoa is a complete protein, meaning it has all the essential amino acids (protein building blocks) our bodies need, just like any meat would. We need a balance of different amino acids for our bodies to function properly and optimally.
Quinoa is also a great source of magnesium, B6, iron, and copper, among other key minerals. And it’s naturally gluten-free!
I chose to chop the mango to get more flavor in small bites. But, you can also leave them in longer slices if you’d prefer.
To me, the use of fresh, whole foods, makes this dish appealing to the taste buds and the body. The mango and lime together are very delicious, and lime quinoa adds a nice juicy flavor!
The cilantro adds a little bit more “statement” of flavor, but if it’s not your thing, you can leave it out!
Add everything to a large bowl.
I also added a splash of this olive oil (a high-quality tasting one), but that is completely optional. A small pinch of lemon juice is also a great addition.
The juice from the lime, the fresh fruits and veggies, and the cilantro give it a kick of flavor on its own where you don’t even need the dressing. I just don’t like dry textures, so I opted for some olive lime seasoning.
If you’re okay with seafood, another summer salad option is this broccoli kale salad with lemon garlic Alaska salmon. So good!
Can You Make This Quinoa Mango Avocado Salad Ahead of Time?
Absolutely! That’s the best way to make a quinoa summer salad recipe – let the flavors sit and marinade.
If you plan on serving this quinoa and mango salad to a large group of people, making it ahead of time frees your hands up for some other dishes to make day of.
Just put this together the night before and then it’s a great option as lunch or dinner.
What Should You Pair With This Healthy Quinoa Salad?
This healthy quinoa salad is the perfect accompaniment alongside sweet potato turkey burgers, for the ultimate al fresco summer meal.
We also love it as a side to this salmon sheetpan dinner or corn and bacon fritters.
I truly love this quinoa salad with mango because it’s the perfect meal prep recipe! You can have it ready in 15 minutes.
I hope you’ll share this quinoa mango salad with your friends and enjoy it!
TRY some of these other recipes!
- Lemon Herb Quinoa
- Easy quinoa balls
- Quinoa and scrambled eggs
- Orzo salad with broccoli
- Instant pot quinoa salad with vegetables
Mango Lime Summer Quinoa Salad
Mango Quinoa Salad is gluten free and a fun spin on pasta salad. Full of light and refreshing veggies, it's an easy and delicious summer quinoa salad.
Ingredients
- 2 cups quinoa
- 1 cucumber, peeled and diced
- 3/4 cup grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 1 mango, peeled and diced
- 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/3 cup feta cheese, substitute with nutritional yeast if vegan
- 1/8 tsp garlic salt, optional
- Juice of 2 limes
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook quinoa according to package directions and let cool.
- Cut your grape tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, mango and cilantro.
- Once the quinoa is cooled, mix in olive oil and juice from the lime and mix around.
- Top with feta cheese and/or nutritional yeast, and salt and pepper to taste
Notes
Remember to add time to let the quinoa cool.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 243Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 159mgCarbohydrates: 36gFiber: 7gSugar: 16gProtein: 6g
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Support Bucket List TummyThis salad looks great!
Thank you, it’s so delicious!
Minus cilantro this sounds like a great recipe. I can’t wait to hear more about your trip!
Ha, just leave it off!
I love the avocado and mango combo. Thanks for linking up today for meatless Monday
that mango-lime combo sounds amazing!!! NEED!
It’s the perfect, refreshing summer dish!
Aafantastic, Sarah…I need to try the wake boarding…and soon!
It was so much fun!
This sounds delicious! I’ve been living off cold quinoa salads so far this summer.
Oh and TEAM CILANTRO, all the way!
I’m so glad I discovered the cold quinoa salad!
This looks so summery and delicious!
I’m with you, fresh fruit definitely tastes better on the water – or outdoors on a warm day! As for cilantro, I’m kind of on the fence as it depends what it’s in!
I love cold fresh fruit on a hot day!
This salad looks divine! Perfect for a hot summer day!
My thoughts exactly π
Yum just pinned this for later! I havent heard of anyone in the middle of the cilantro debate–that’s awesome! Im on team love cilantro! That peach looks awesommeeee! I havent had one yet this summer!
I can’t get enough peaches!
I’m with you on the running. It’s been in the upper 90’s every day this week. It’s forcing me to get up at 7:00 or earlier to run before it’s unbearable. You salad looks delicious! I absolutely love cilantro! I eat it on everything Mexican!
I’m not an early morning runner so it’s tough adjusting. Cilantro goes amazingly well with Mexican!
I feel the same about cilantro! It’s not my favorite, but I’ll still eat something that’s flavored with it.
Agreed, Sarah!
Totally delicious. Cilantro, lime, cucumber, and mango? YES PLEASE. You hit the refreshing nail on the head! Totally pinning this.
Also, you are totally killing me with that perfect peach. I MISS THE SOUTH
Thanks Suz! Come visit anytime. I’ll save you a peach.
I have friends who think cilantro tastes like soap? WHAT?!?! I personally love it! It adds the best flavor to salsa, guac, on top of chili…etc and I bet is just delicious in this quinoa salad.
Soap? I haven’t heard that one π I like the herby flavor it adds to so many things.
Girl. This is a WIN. I’ve been feeling totally in a rut with salads lately – and with a few family gatherings/BBQs coming up – this is not the time for a salad rut! Hands down I am making this stat. Such summer perfection.
You and I are on the same bandwagon –> Always. Add. Feta. .
We are on the same level, always, my friend. We need to make meals together in real life!!
perfect and refreshing for summer!
I agree, Linz!
I love this quinoa salad- i usually try to make something like this with lots of veggies to bring to summer parties so I can balance out my indulgences with some healthy foods. And yes, I could probably eat my weight in pasta salad!
Pasta salad is such a double edged sword π
Oh gosh, this recipe looks AMAZING. So fresh and beautiful too! I am definitely a cilantro lover – the more the better. I just hate when I buy a bunch of it. I never seem to use it all before it goes bad π
The most refreshing vegetable to me is cucumbers, but thats because I immediately think of a spa. I usually don’t eat cucumbers on their own though. Usually when I go to parties I take a medium size container of plain greek yogurt and make my own ranch spices to mix in. Bring along a ton of veggies & you have a guilt free dip! Who doesn’t like ranch? Hahahah.
As always – Thanks for sharing!
I loveee cucumbers in the summer, maybe because they are so water-dense too and nice and cold.. Your homemade healthy ranch dip can come to any of my parties π
Woah Sarah, congratulations on getting up on your 3rd attempt on the board! And this salad looks so fresh and yummy. I like cilantro, but I don’t love it. Maybe I”m in the same boat with you.
Thanks, Emily. It was a challenge but a lot of fun! Glad we’re in agreement over cilantro π