Zesty Black Bean Mango Salad Recipe: A Tropical Delight

Summers buzz with vibrant flavors that dance on our plates, and this black bean mango salad recipe brings zesty excitement to every bite.

Crisp ingredients mingle with tropical sweetness, creating a refreshing melody of textures and tastes.

Fresh vegetables and ripe mangoes combine with protein-packed black beans for a seriously satisfying meal.

Each colorful forkful delivers a burst of fresh, tangy goodness that makes lunch feel like a celebration.

The salad comes together in minutes, requiring minimal cooking and maximum flavor impact.

Bright, bold, and wonderfully balanced, this dish will become your new go-to summer favorite.

You’ll want to make extra for spontaneous picnics and sunny afternoon gatherings.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time:

Total Time: 15 mins

Calories: 130 kcal

Servings: 7

Ingredients in Black Bean Mango Salad

• Black Beans: Nutrient-packed protein powerhouse that adds creamy texture and earthy flavor to the salad.
• Mango: Sweet tropical fruit that brings vibrant color and juicy freshness, best when ripe and slightly soft to touch.
• Tomatoes: Adds bright acidity and juicy crunch, choose firm and deeply colored tomatoes for maximum flavor.
• Cabbage: Provides crisp texture and subtle peppery notes, select fresh, compact heads with bright green or purple leaves.
• Cilantro: Delivers bright, herbal freshness that complements the tropical ingredients, look for bright green leaves without wilting.

• Lime Juice: Tangy citrus component that brightens the entire salad and helps balance rich flavors.
• Salt: Essential seasoning that enhances and harmonizes the other ingredients' natural tastes.
• Black Pepper: Adds subtle heat and depth, freshly ground offers more intense flavor.
• Cayenne: Introduces gentle spiciness that elevates the salad's overall flavor profile.
• Sweetener: Balances acidity and adds subtle sweetness, can use honey or agave for natural touch.

• Olive Oil: Smooth binding agent that creates silky dressing texture and adds rich undertone.

Tools for This Sweet-Savory Salad

• Large mixing bowl: Spacious container for combining salad ingredients.
• Small bowl: For whisking and preparing the dressing.
• Whisk: Essential for blending dressing ingredients smoothly.
• Vegetable chopper: Helps create uniform vegetable pieces quickly.
• Knife: Needed for cutting tomatoes, slicing cabbage, and chopping cilantro.
• Cutting board: Provides a stable surface for chopping ingredients.

How to Prepare Black Bean Mango Salad

• Chopping Magic

Grab your trusty vegetable chopper and slice through the colorful ingredients. Transform mango into perfect cubes, slice tomatoes with a sharp knife, shred cabbage into delicate ribbons, and chop cilantro into tiny green confetti.

• Salad Symphony

In a spacious mixing bowl, create a vibrant landscape of textures by combining all the chopped ingredients. Let each piece dance together, creating a beautiful medley of colors and flavors.

• Zesty Elixir

Whisk together a tantalizing dressing that will elevate your salad. Squeeze fresh lime juice, sprinkle in salt and pepper, add a whisper of cayenne for excitement, a touch of sweetener for balance, and a splash of olive oil to bind the flavors.

• Final Flourish

Drizzle the dressing over your salad and gently toss everything together. Allow the ingredients to mingle and get acquainted. Chill in the refrigerator, letting the flavors intensify and become even more delicious before serving.

Easy Flavor Tips for This Colorful Bowl

• Swap out black beans for chickpeas or white beans to create a different protein base and add variety to your dish.
• Increase or decrease cayenne pepper to match your personal heat tolerance, making the salad milder or more intense depending on your preference.
• Prepare the salad up to 24 hours in advance, storing dressing and vegetables separately to maintain crisp textures and prevent sogginess.
• Add grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu for extra protein, transforming this side dish into a complete and satisfying meal for lunch or dinner.

How to Serve This Salad Fresh

• Pair with Grilled Proteins: Serve alongside sizzling grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu for a complete and satisfying meal that balances the salad's fresh, zesty flavors.
• Create Taco Night Companion: Use this vibrant salad as a delicious topping or side dish for soft corn tortillas, adding a burst of color and tropical freshness to your Mexican-inspired feast.
• Pack for Picnic Perfection: Transfer the salad to a portable container for a refreshing outdoor lunch, making it an ideal choice for beach days, park outings, or work lunch breaks.
• Transform into Wrap Filling: Stuff the black bean mango salad into large lettuce leaves or tortilla wraps for a light, nutritious lunch that's easy to assemble and packed with exciting textures.

Keeping the Salad Fresh Longer

• Refrigerate Immediately: Store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days to maintain freshness and crispness.
• Separate Dressing Strategy: Keep the dressing in a separate sealed container to prevent the salad from becoming soggy, allowing you to add it just before serving.
• Prep Ahead Technique: Chop vegetables and mango in advance and store them separately in the refrigerator to save time when assembling the salad.
• Revive Wilted Salad: If the salad loses its crunch, add a few fresh chopped ingredients and a splash of dressing to refresh the texture and flavor.

Fresh Black Bean Mango Salad Recipe

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4.8 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 15 mins
• Yield: 7 1x

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Description

Spicy southwestern black bean mango salad combines fresh ingredients with zesty lime dressing. Crisp vegetables and sweet fruit create a refreshing meal perfect for summer gatherings.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 cups (700 ml) diced mango (about 2 large or 3 medium mangoes)
• 1 can (14 oz/400 g) cooked black beans, rinsed and drained, or 1.5 to 2 cups (350–475 ml) cooked beans
• 3 cups (700 ml) thinly sliced red cabbage (or Napa cabbage)
• 1 cup (240 ml) cherry or grape tomatoes halved
• 1 cup (240 ml) diced cucumber (½ English cucumber or 2 Persian cucumbers)
• ½ cup (120 ml) diced red onion (about ½ medium onion)
• ½ cup (120 ml) diced red bell pepper (about ½ pepper)
• 2 tbsps (30 ml) seeded and fine diced jalapeno (1 large jalapeno or 2 serrano peppers)
• ¼ cup (60 ml) chopped cilantro (leaves and light green stems)
• 2 tbsps (30 ml) fresh lime juice (1 large lime)
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) extra virgin olive oil
• ½ tsp agave syrup or maple syrup (or honey for non-vegan)
• ¼ tsp sea salt or pink salt, or 1/8 tsp regular salt (adjust to taste)
• 1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1/8 tsp cayenne (optional – for a mild version, skip)

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Instructions

1. Prep Ingredients: Uniformly dice mango, tomatoes, and vegetables into bite-sized pieces, creating a visually appealing and consistent texture. Slice cabbage into delicate ribbons and finely chop fresh cilantro to enhance the salad’s aromatic profile.
2. Create Dressing: Whisk lime juice, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, natural sweetener, and extra virgin olive oil in a small bowl until the mixture transforms into a smooth, well-integrated vinaigrette that promises to elevate the salad’s flavor complexity.
3. Combine and Dress: Transfer all prepared ingredients into a spacious mixing bowl, gently drizzling the zesty dressing over the components. Use a light tossing technique to ensure each element is lightly coated without compromising the delicate textures.
4. Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the dressed salad for 15-20 minutes, allowing the flavors to harmonize and intensify. This resting period will create a refreshing, vibrant dish that tantalizes the taste buds with its perfect balance of freshness and depth.

Notes

• Precision Cutting Matters: Uniform dicing ensures every bite has balanced flavors and consistent texture, making the salad visually appealing and enjoyable.
• Cilantro Secret: Finely chopping releases intense herbal aromatics, enhancing the overall taste profile and providing fresh, bright notes to the salad.
• Dressing Technique: Whisk ingredients thoroughly to create a smooth, well-integrated vinaigrette that coats ingredients evenly without oversaturating the vegetables.
• Chill for Flavor Fusion: Refrigerating allows ingredients to marinate and develop deeper, more complex taste combinations, transforming a simple salad into a gourmet experience.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 7
• Calories: 130
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 4 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 23 g
• Fiber: 6 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg