Saturday, September 8, 2012

Spicy Black Bean & Avocado Salad

This simple but flavor-packed salad has a zesty kick and is also good for you: The black beans provide protein and fiber, the avocado supplies healthy fats, and the vegetables deliver vitamins and antioxidants.

You can serve this black bean and avocado salad on a bed of lettuce or as a chunky "dip" with tortilla chips, pita wedges, or raw vegetables such as cucumber slices, diagonally-sliced carrots or celery sticks.

If you make this salad ahead of time, cover well with plastic wrap directly on the surface of the salad and hold in refrigerator until ready to serve.  Because freshly-cut avocado easily browns when exposed to air, if you have to make this salad more than a couple of hours ahead of time, I recommend that you wait until just before serving to add the avocado.

Ingredients
1 can (15.5 oz) black beans, well-rinsed & drained
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded & diced
El Yucateco Hot Sauce
10 grape tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup finely chopped sweet onion (or green onion)
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp Kosher salt
1/4 to 1/2 tsp chili powder (to taste)
1 or more dashes El Yucateco Hot Sauce, to taste (habanero or jalapeno)
1 small avocado (ripe but firm), diced
1 1/2 tsp fresh-squeezed lime juice (or juice from half a small lime)
Optional garnish: lime zest, fresh cilantro

Combine the first 8 ingredients in a bowl. Add avocado, sprinkle with lime juice, and gently fold into the beans using a silicone spatula. Taste for balance and adjust seasonings as desired. Serves 4. If desired, garnish with some lime zest and/or fresh cilantro before serving.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

2 comments:

  1. That particular hot sauce is the only one my husband eats and he is serious about his hot sauce.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Devine,

      Your husband has excellent taste in hot sauces :-) El Yucateco is my go-to hot sauce whenever I make a Mexican or Mexican-inspired dish, and it's also quite good as an all-purpose table sauce for spicing up anything from scrambled eggs to pizza to a casserole supper. Thanks for your comment!

      Zestfully yours,
      Gloria

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