Black Bean Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

I make this Black Bean Salad a lot, especially when I cook for vegetarians. It is full of protein to give you energy and contains healthy fat which helps to make you feel full and satiated.  I love the combination of the beans, avocado and citrus together.  I make this salad at home and have it as a quick snack in the middle of the day or as a side dish for a backyard BBQ.

Serve as a side dish on top a bed of lettuce or as part of a make-your-own taco bar. Increase the amount of jalapeño peppers if you favor it a little hotter. During the summer replace the canned corn with fresh grilled corn off the cob to give it a smokier, outdoor flavor.

Canned or Fresh Beans

I used canned black beans in the recipe below, which are easy to use if you are short on time. If you have more time then using soaked dried black beans are really nice and have better flavor since they are fresh.

To use dried black beans instead, place 2 cups dried black (turtle) beans in a bowl big enough to handle the beans once they double in size.  Cover with water about 4 inches above the level of the beans.  Let beans soak for at least 8 hours, overnight is better.  When you are ready to cook them, drain the soaking water and place beans in a pot. Pour in new water about 4 – 5 inches above the level of the beans. Place over high heat and bring to a boil.

Once the beans are boiling, turn down heat until beans are gently bouncing around in the water, adding in other ingredients like chopped onion, bay leave, garlic cloves, and chopped tomatoes to give them extra flavor.  Simmer for 30 minutes. Taste a couple to see if they are done, add more time if they are still hard.  Drain and cool before serving or adding to another recipe like this one. Enjoy! 

Let’s Make Black Bean Salad!

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Black Bean Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

• Author: Andrea Sprague
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 10 minutes

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Ingredients

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1 can (15-ounce) black beans, rinsed and drained

¼ red bell pepper, chopped

½ small red onion, small dice (about ¼ cup)

½ cup sweet yellow corn (canned or fresh)

1 small tomato, chopped

1 small jalapeno, minced

3 tablespoons lime juice

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil

1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped, more for garnish

1 tsp honey

½ tsp sea salt

freshly ground black pepper

½ firm-ripe avocado, peeled, cut into small cubes

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Instructions

1. Place beans, bell pepper, onion, corn, tomato and jalapeno in a large bowl.
2. In a small bowl mix lime juice, oil, cilantro, honey, salt and pepper with a whisk until thoroughly combined. Pour vinaigrette over the bean mixture and stir to mix.  Taste and adjust the seasonings as desired.  Top salad with extra cilantro leaves and let chill before serving.
3. Make at least an hour before serving so that the beans absorb the flavor of the vinaigrette. Stir a couple times to distribute the beans in the vinaigrette.
4. Cut and add the avocado just before serving.

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Notes

*The Black Bean Salad will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 weeks.  The avocado will brown if making the salad more than a day before eating so you can reserve the avocado and add it on the day it is being served.