Southwest Black Bean Salad (Printable)

Bright Southwest mix of black beans, corn, peppers, and cilantro with tangy lime dressing, ready in 15 minutes.

# Ingredient List:

→ Salad

01 - 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 cup (6 oz) sweet corn kernels, fresh, frozen, or canned and drained
03 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
04 - 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped
06 - 1/2 cup (0.5 oz) fresh cilantro, chopped
07 - 1 medium avocado, diced (optional)

→ Lime Vinaigrette

08 - 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
09 - 2 tbsp olive oil
10 - 1 clove garlic, minced
11 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
12 - 1/2 tsp chili powder
13 - 1/2 tsp salt
14 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

# How to Prepare:

01 - In a large bowl, mix black beans, sweet corn, red and yellow bell peppers, red onion, and cilantro. Add diced avocado if desired.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, minced garlic, cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
03 - Pour the vinaigrette over the salad mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Taste the salad and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes to enhance the flavors.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes, which means you can have lunch ready before you've finished your coffee.
  • The lime vinaigrette is bright enough to make you taste every single ingredient, even the quiet ones like cumin.
  • It's endlessly flexible—add spice if you're feeling bold, or skip it if you're not.
02 -
  • If you let it chill for 30 minutes, the flavors meld in a way that tastes more intentional than eating it right away.
  • Lime juice and cilantro are the non-negotiables—everything else can be adjusted, but these two are what makes it actually sing.
03 -
  • Pat your beans dry before adding them—it's a small step that keeps the salad from becoming a watery mess.
  • Make the vinaigrette first so the flavors have time to get to know each other while you're prepping everything else.
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