Name: Fiesta Bean Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil; 1/2 cup lime juice; 1 Tbsp garlic (minced); 4 tsp ground cumin; 2 tsp ground coriander; 1 Tbsp sea salt; 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes; 3 avocados (roughly chopped); 1 red bell pepper (large diced); 1 cucumber (deseeded, roughly chopped); 15 oz canned whole kernel corn (drained); 15 oz canned chickpeas (drained, rinsed); 15 oz canned black beans (drained, rinsed); 15 oz canned red kidney beans (drained, rinsed); 1 cup grape tomatoes (halved)

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Ready in 15 minutes, this bright and fresh fiesta bean salad is full-flavored, quick to make, and easy to modify. It is full of textures, both crunchy and soft, and balanced in flavor, with just a hint of heat. Made with plant-based ingredients that are full of protein, fiber, and healthy fat, it’s a healthy and filling meal.

One of my favorite things in the world is a quick, yet delicious, dinner, because sometimes you just don’t have time! The problem is… usually that means something REALLY unhealthy and over-processed. Well, not this meal! This salad can be put together in about 15 minutes. And the best part is- it’s toddler approved in our home. That’s is winning on all levels.

Why This Recipe Works

The crisp peppers, crunchy cucumbers, and smooth avocado and beans create the perfect balance of textures.
This recipe is full of plant-based protein, fiber, and healthy fat, making it a healthy and filling meal.
It works well as a make-ahead dish because it’s served cold, and the lime juice in the vinaigrette prevents the avocado from browning quickly.

How to Make Fiesta Bean Salad

Olive oil, lime juice, garlic, and spices in mixing bowl.

Add olive oil, lime juice, garlic, cumin, coriander, red pepper flakes, and salt to a large mixing bowl.

Whisk together until fully combined.

Chopped avocados and vinaigrette in mixing bowl.

Add avocados to bowl…

Vinaigrette and avocados combined in mixing bowl.

…and mix gently, making sure to break up avocados into individual pieces. This will prevent oxidation and discoloration.

Red peppers, corn, and cucumbers in mixing bowl.

Add corn, red bell peppers, and cucumbers to bowl…

Red peppers, corn, and cucumbers combined with avocados in mixing bowl.

…and gently mix to combine.

Chickpeas, kidney beans, and black beans in mixing bowl.

Next, add the beans (chickpeas, black beans, kidney beans) and again mix gently to combine.

Halved tomatoes on top of mixed veggies in mixing bowl.

Finally, add the tomatoes and give one final mix.

And this is the AMAZING result…

Expert Tips

When making this dish, you definitely want to mix the avocados with the vinaigrette first before you begin adding the other veggies. The lime juice in the dressing with keep the avocados from oxidizing and turning brown. Then, technically, you could add all the other veggies and mix; although I recommend doing it in stages. Adding in stages helps distribute the vinaigrette more evenly.
This recipe is easily customizable. The cucumber or peppers can easily be omitted, and the beans can be substituted for other kinds of beans.
I used ground coriander instead of cilantro in this recipe. In some parts of the world, the terms coriander and cilantro are interchangeable. However in North America, coriander refers to the dried seeds of the plant, while cilantro means the leaves and stalks. They have different flavor profiles, and many people have an aversion to cilantro, or coriander leaves, as it tastes like soap to some. Fortunately, this is not the case with ground coriander. Coriander has a bright, lemony, citrus taste that adds a nice pop of flavor to brighten the recipe.

FAQS

Can I use a different kind of beans? Absolutely! You can prepare this dish with any beans you like.

I don’t like cucumber/peppers/etc. Can I leave them out? Yes! As stated above, this recipe is easily customizable.

What can I serve this with? We often eat this as a stand alone dish, but it also pairs perfectly with cilantro lime rice.

What do you mean by deseeded cucumber? And do I have to do it? Deseeding a cucumber is when you slice a cucumber lengthwise, then scrape out the seeds with a spoon. The seeds can be hard and the flesh can be slimy and unappetizing; so I prefer to remove them altogether. And yes, technically you can skip this step, especially if you’re using an English or hothouse cucumber.

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