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Black Bean Salad

I hope this comprehensive guide has inspired you to make this delicious, healthy, and versatile Black Bean Salad! It’s a perfect meal for any occasion and a great way to incorporate more plant-based foods into your diet.

Ingredients

Scale

Here’s a complete list of the ingredients you’ll need, with precise measurements:

For the Salad:

  • 2 cups (or 1 can) black beans, drained and rinsed

  • 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1-inch cubes

  • 1 green bell pepper, diced (or substitute red, yellow, or orange bell peppers)

  • 1 cup canned corn kernels, drained (or use fresh or defrosted frozen corn)

  • 1 small red onion, finely chopped (or substitute spring onions or shallots)

  • 1 large avocado, diced

  • 2 tablespoons pickled jalapeños, chopped (or substitute fresh jalapeños soaked in water, vinegar, and a pinch of salt for 30 minutes)

For the Cilantro Lime Dressing:

  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves (substitute parsley, basil, or mint)

  • 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (or substitute lemon juice or apple cider vinegar)

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or substitute honey, agave syrup, or brown sugar)

  • 1 clove garlic, chopped (or substitute 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder)

  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger (or substitute 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger)

  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

Let’s get cooking! Here’s a detailed, step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Prepare Black Beans (if using dried)

If you’re using dried black beans: Rinse them thoroughly and boil them in salted water for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until tender. Add aromatics like bay leaves, cumin, or onions for extra flavor. Once cooked, drain and let them cool.

If using canned beans: Simply drain and rinse them under cold water.

Step 2: Roast Sweet Potatoes

Preheat your oven or air fryer to 400°F (200°C).

Toss the diced sweet potatoes with olive oil, salt, and black pepper.

Oven Method: Spread the sweet potatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (optional). Roast for 25 minutes, or until fork-tender and lightly browned.

Air Fryer Method: Place the sweet potatoes in the air fryer basket and cook for 15-18 minutes, shaking the basket every 4 minutes for even cooking.

Step 3: Make the Cilantro Lime Dressing

In a food processor or blender, combine the cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, maple syrup, garlic, ginger, and salt. Blend until smooth.

Alternatively, finely chop the cilantro and whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl.

Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. You might want to add more lime juice for extra tanginess, more maple syrup for sweetness, or more salt.

Step 4: Assemble the Salad

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked black beans, roasted sweet potatoes, diced bell pepper, corn kernels, finely chopped red onion, chopped pickled jalapeños, and diced avocado.

Step 5: Dress and Serve

Drizzle the cilantro lime dressing over the salad and gently toss everything together to combine.

Allow the salad to rest for 15-30 minutes to let the flavors meld. This allows the dressing to really soak into the ingredients.

Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Enjoy this vibrant, flavorful, and satisfying Black Bean Salad!

Find it online: https://www.eatswithsoul.com/black-bean-salad/