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.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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)
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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