Vibrant black bean salad (Printable Version)

Bright mix of black beans, corn, peppers, and lime dressing for a fresh, easy, and flavorful dish.

# What You Need:

→ Beans and Vegetables

01 - 1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
02 - 1 can (15 oz) sweet corn, drained or 1 1/2 cups thawed frozen corn
03 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
04 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
06 - 1 medium tomato, diced (optional)
07 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped (optional)
08 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Lime Vinaigrette

09 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
10 - 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
11 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
12 - 1 teaspoon honey or agave syrup (optional)
13 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
14 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
15 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
16 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# Steps:

01 - In a large bowl, mix black beans, corn, diced bell peppers, red onion, tomato if using, jalapeño if using, and chopped cilantro.
02 - In a smaller bowl or jar, whisk olive oil, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, honey or agave syrup if using, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper until well blended.
03 - Pour the vinaigrette over the mixture of vegetables and beans, gently tossing to coat evenly.
04 - Let the salad rest for at least 10 minutes to meld flavors.
05 - Serve chilled or at room temperature as a salad, a dip with tortilla chips, or as a topping for tacos.

# Expert Pointers:

01 -
  • It comes together in 20 minutes with ingredients you probably already have on hand.
  • The flavors actually get better if you make it ahead, which means less stress when you're hosting.
  • One bowl feeds a crowd, whether you serve it as a salad, a dip with chips, or spooned over tacos.
02 -
  • Fresh lime juice makes an actual difference, not just a slight one, so if you only have bottled juice, it's worth waiting until you have fresh limes.
  • This salad is forgiving about timing because the flavors improve after sitting, which means you can make it hours ahead and it'll be better, not worse.
03 -
  • Don't let the simplicity fool you, this salad is a genuine crowd-pleaser and costs a fraction of what you'd spend on ingredients if you bought everything fresh.
  • If the salad tastes flat after a few hours, hit it with another squeeze of lime juice and a pinch more salt to brighten it back up.
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