Cookout side dishes, especially cool, flavorful salads, are a cornerstone of summer. Their templates are comforting and familiar: macaroni, potato, coleslaw, three bean, roasted veggie, fruit, basic green and grain—all perfectly delicious options for your next backyard barbecue or summer potluck.
These days, I’m partial to a quinoa salad because it’s easy to make ahead and no matter what you throw in, it holds its shape and flavor. You can take a quinoa salad in infinite directions, but a Southwest theme is punchy and substantial, especially when you add plump sautéed or grilled Gulf shrimp.
Here’s how:
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Southwest Quinoa Salad with Shrimp
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 pound large wild-caught Gulf shrimp, peeled and deveined
4 cups cooked white quinoa
1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup frozen corn, lightly steamed or thawed
1 cup chopped fresh tomato
1 ripe avocado, diced
Cumin-lime dressing (recipe follows)
Fresh parsley or cilantro for garnish
In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil on medium-high heat and sauté the onion and garlic until soft but not browned, about 3 minutes. Remove the vegetables from the pan and set aside. Using the same pan, add the shrimp and saute over medium-high heat for about 1-2 minutes on each side. Remove from pan and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, black beans, corn, tomato and avocado. Add the onion mixture and shrimp to the quinoa. Pour in the cumin-lime dressing and toss gently. Serve immediately and garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro.
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Cumin-lime dressing
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about one lime)
1 tablespoon orange juice
1 tablespoon honey or agave
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
Whisk all the ingredients in a bowl and combine well, ensuring the honey is thoroughly incorporated and the oil is emulsified.
Maggie Heyn Richardson is a regular 225 contributor and the author of Hungry for Louisiana, An Omnivore’s Journey. Reach her at hungryforlouisiana.com.