Description
A vibrant, Mexican-inspired quinoa salad with sweet corn, creamy cotija-style cheese, lime, chili, and cilantro—capturing the flavors of street-style elote in a nutritious grain bowl.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
- 2 cups water or vegetable broth
- 2 cups corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or grilled)
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise or Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp lime juice (about 1 lime)
- 1 tsp lime zest
- 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese (or feta for vegetarian)
- 1/4 tsp chili powder (plus more for garnish)
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- Optional: a drizzle of melted butter or a pinch of Tajín for extra flavor
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine rinsed quinoa and water (or broth). Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
- Remove from heat and let quinoa rest, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and transfer to a large bowl to cool slightly.
- If using fresh corn, grill or sauté until lightly charred. Frozen corn can be briefly sautéed. Add corn to the cooled quinoa.
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt), lime juice, lime zest, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Pour dressing over quinoa and corn, tossing to coat evenly.
- Gently fold in cotija cheese and chopped cilantro.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, adding more lime juice, salt, or chili powder as desired.
- Transfer to a serving bowl or container. Garnish with extra cilantro, a sprinkle of cotija, lime wedges, and a pinch of chili powder or Tajín before serving.
Notes
- For a dairy-free version, omit cotija and use avocado cubes instead.
- Make it vegan by swapping mayo for vegan mayonnaise or more Greek yogurt.
- Add black beans or diced red bell pepper for more color and protein.
- Can be served warm, at room temperature, or chilled—great for meal prep.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg