Colorful Cumin Quinoa Salad with Cilantro

As far as fresh herbs go, cilantro is is both one of the most loved and hated. For some people – my dad included – cilantro tastes like soap… apparently due to a genetic predisposition. Thank goodness I inherited my mom’s affinity for this particular herb because I absolutely adore Mexican food, a cuisine that cilantro is commonly found in despite technically being Chinese parsley.

In this bright summertime salad, fresh cilantro livens up a delightful mixture of nutty protein-packed quinoa, sweet bell pepper, juicy mango, creamy avocado, and earthy black beans. Healthy, satiating, and tasty, this salad can be enjoyed as a side dish or main course. Just be sure to allow the composed salad to sit in the fridge for a few hours to allow all of the flavors to meld.