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Dinner recipe · from the recipe book

Smoky Black Bean Quinoa Balls with Corn Salad

Crisp-edged, smoky-cumin black bean and quinoa balls with a tender center, served with a crunchy lime-dressed romaine, corn and avocado salad.

Smoky Black Bean Quinoa Balls with Corn Salad

Ingredients

  • 2½ cups430 gBlack beans, canned, drained and rinsedpatted dry
  • ⅔ cup100 gQuinoa, dryrinsed
  • 1 cup245 gWater
  • 3 tbsp20 gGround flaxseed
  • ¾ cup60 gOld-fashioned rolled oats
  • ½ cup chopped80 gYellow onionfinely chopped
  • 3 cloves9 gGarlicminced
  • 2 tsp4 gGround cumin
  • 1¾ tsp4 gPaprika (sweet or smoked)smoked
  • ¾ tsp2 gChili powder
  • ½ tsp3 gSalt
  • 1 cup chopped16 gFresh cilantrochopped
  • 2 tbsp30 gOlive oil
  • 5⅓ cups chopped250 gRomaine lettucechopped
  • 1⅓ cups200 gCherry tomatoeshalved
  • 1 cup150 gCorn kernels, canned, drained
  • 1 cup diced150 gAvocadodiced
  • ¼ cup chopped40 gRed onionthinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp30 gLime juice

Steps

  1. Bring the quinoa and about four-fifths of the water to a boil in a small pot, cover, and simmer on low for 15 minutes until the water is absorbed; spread on a plate to cool.
  2. While the quinoa cooks, stir the flaxseed into the remaining fifth of the water and let it sit 10 minutes to thicken.
  3. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a sheet pan with parchment.
  4. In a large bowl, mash the black beans with a fork until mostly smooth with some pieces left.
  5. Add the cooled quinoa, flaxseed mixture, oats, yellow onion, garlic, cumin, paprika, chili powder, two-thirds of the salt and half the cilantro; mix well and let rest 5 minutes so the oats absorb moisture.
  6. Roll the mixture into about 20 balls, set them on the sheet pan, and brush with half the olive oil.
  7. Bake 25 to 28 minutes, turning once halfway, until browned and firm on the outside.
  8. While the balls bake, whisk the lime juice, the remaining half of the olive oil and the remaining third of the salt in a large bowl.
  9. Add the romaine, cherry tomatoes, canned corn kernels, avocado, red onion and the remaining half of the cilantro to the dressing and toss gently.
  10. Serve the warm black bean balls alongside the salad.

Check labels: Gluten-free when you buy old-fashioned rolled oats labeled gluten-free.

Allergens: none in the ingredients as written. Some brands contain gluten.

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Saved in the Every Helping recipe book on October 24, 2026.

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