Southwestern Bean Salad

Bean salad is one of those dishes that I often forget about making. I don't know why I do because it's healthy, super easy, inexpensive and delicious. My 16 month old even loves it! Well, she picks out her favorite beans and feeds the rest to the dogs along with most other foods.  Lucky pups!

Add bean salad to your boring lunch salad to jazz it up while also adding protein!

The bean salad is great as a side dish or with tortilla chips.

Ingredients:

Southwestern Salad Dressing:

1 tbsp honey
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 limes (zest & juice)
1 tbsp chili powder
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
salt & pepper to taste

Bean Salad:

1 15 oz can kidney beands
1 15 oz can canellini beans
1 15 oz can chickpeas
1 15 oz can black beans
1 15 oz can corn
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 tbsp chopped dill
1/2 cup diced bell peppers
1 finely diced jalapeno
1/4 cup green onion or red onion
salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

Let's make the salad dressing first in a handy-dandy mason jar!

 1. Zest 2 limes.

 2. Squeeze the juice of 2 limes into the mason jar.

 3. Add the zest and all of the spices (chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, salt & pepper).

 4. Add 1 tbsp honey.

 5. Add 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil.

 6. Ready? Shake, Shake, Shake to emulsify the salad dressing. Add additional salt and pepper to taste.

I used low sodium or no salt added beans for most beans and the corn.

7. Get a big container (I went ahead and made it in a large plastic container for mixing and storing purposes) and add your beans, corn, bell peppers, green onions and fresh herbs (fresh basil or parsley could also be used---use whatever is fresh).

8. Add salad dressing (I used all of it!)

9. Put the lid on your container and shake it up! You're done. Easy, right?

It's great to have as a side dish or bring to a party. It feeds a large group and is a great protein rich alternative to add to a salad topping! Eat with tortilla chips too. It's especially good for my toddler to get her daily allotment of protein when chicken just won't do the job.

The salad includes: curly leaf lettuce, bean salad, heart of palm, pickled beats, Persian cucumbers, tomatoes, boiled eggs, extra virgin olive oil , balsamic reduction, salt & pepper.

Happy eating!

Randee