Description
Hearty southwest chickpea and black bean salad brings zesty southwestern flavors to your summer table. Fresh ingredients blend perfectly with tangy lime dressing, offering you a satisfying and nutritious meal that celebrates bold Mexican-inspired cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (15 oz / 425 g) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1 (15 oz / 425 g) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup frozen fire roasted corn, thawed
- 1 avocado, cubed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ small red onion, finely diced
- 1 jalapeno, finely diced (optional)
- ¼ cup cilantro, minced
- 1 large clove of garlic, crushed
- 2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- Zest of 1 lime
- Juice of 2 limes or ¼ cup lime juice
- ½ tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder or Tajin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preparation: Thoroughly drain and rinse chickpeas and black beans, eliminating excess moisture to preserve the salad’s crisp essence.
- Mixing: Combine chickpeas, black beans, sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro in a spacious mixing bowl, creating a colorful medley of textures and flavors.
- Vinaigrette Creation: Whisk together lime zest, lime juice, olive oil, maple syrup, garlic, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, and sea salt until a smooth, aromatic dressing forms.
- Flavor Infusion: Gently pour the vinaigrette over the bean mixture, delicately folding to ensure even coating without compromising the ingredients’ integrity.
- Marination: Refrigerate the salad for at least one hour, allowing the spices and citrus to harmonize and develop a complex, robust flavor profile.
- Final Touch: Just before serving, gently fold in diced avocado, distributing the creamy chunks throughout the salad for a luxurious finish.
- Presentation: Optionally garnish with additional cilantro leaves or a sprinkle of chili powder to enhance visual appeal and flavor complexity.
Notes
- Prep Thoroughly: Drain and rinse beans completely to prevent watery texture and maintain crisp, clean flavor profile.
- Build Flavor Layers: Whisk vinaigrette ingredients meticulously to create a balanced, harmonious dressing that coats ingredients evenly.
- Marinate Strategically: Refrigerate salad for at least an hour to allow spices and citrus to develop deep, complex taste sensations.
- Final Fresh Touch: Add avocado just before serving to preserve its creamy texture and prevent browning from early exposure.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Southwestern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 230mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 9g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 0mg