Mexican Quinoa Salad

Protein-rich quinoa and black beans anchor this vegetarian salad. Why rinse the quinoa? It has a natural coating called saponin that can make the grain taste bitter when cooked, but it’s easy to avoid by rinsing the quinoa just before cooking. Boxed quinoa often comes pre-rinsed, but rinsing again won’t hurt. The most common quinoa varieties available are white, black, and red. We’ve opted for white in this recipe because of its neutral flavor. Red and black quinoa have their own unique flavors that are bolder and earthier. Look for fresh pico de gallo in the produce section of your supermarket near the refrigerated salsas.