All the flavors of the Southwest in one zesty Black Bean Salsa Salad! Perfect for summer parties, this simple salad will be a hit!

Hi friends! One of my favorite holidays is around the corner – Cinco de Mayo! Not a big holiday for you? Don’t feel bad. I live in sunny Phoenix, AZ and being close to Mexico, we grew up celebrating the holiday with colorful decorations, dances and cake walks. Now as an adult the celebration has morphed into Mexican food and margaritas. Funny how that happens! So today we’re sharing a tasty Southwest side salad recipe with you perfect for any summer soiree AND links to more delicious dishes! Let’s take a dive into our Black Bean Salsa Salad…

I love simple summer salads. This Tortellini Pasta Salad is tops on our summer party list but this Black Bean Salsa Salad is a new contender! I found a similar recipe that called for pinto beans, but I don’t know about you, I’m a big fan of black beans so the swap was certainly necessary. So use your favorite here…add in some corn, chopped bell pepper, onion and tomatoes.

Stir that all together then whip up the delicious dressing. A simple combination of EVOO, garlic, lime, cilantro and seasoning and pour it all over the salad and fold gently.


Black Bean Salsa Salad
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 1/2 limes juiced (about 3 tablespoons)
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
For the salad:
- 1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 15-ounce can corn kernels, drained and rinsed
- 1 orange or yellow bell pepper seeded and diced
- 1/2 small red onion finely chopped (about 1/4 cup)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
For the dressing:
-
Smash the garlic cloves, sprinkle with a pinch of the salt, and, with the flat side of a large knife, mash and smear the mixture to a coarse paste.
-
Chop the cilantro into small pieces.
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Whisk the garlic paste, lime juice, cilantro and remaining salt and chili powder together in a bowl.
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Gradually whisk in the olive oil, starting with a few drops and then adding the rest in a steady stream.
For the salad:
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Toss together the black beans, tomatoes, corn, bell pepper, and onions.
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Add the dressing and toss to coat evenly.
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Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, to taste, and serve.
Now at this point it’s delicious – but it’s even better if you let the flavors marinate for a bit. Black beans soak up flavor really well so after a couple of hours this Black Bean Salsa Salad is DYNAMITE!


So if you’re in the mood to whip up a little summer salad OR you’re filling out your festive feast for Cinco de Mayo, give this Black Bean Salsa Salad a try and let me know what you think! And don’t forget, we have a number of great Mexican Food Recipes for you today! Be sure to hop around and check out all of these great recipes from my #CreativeFoodies friends!

Watermelon Jicama Salad by Mom Endeavors
Cheesy Bubble Up Enchiladas by See Vanessa Craft
Black Bean Salsa Salad by A Night Owl Blog
Easy Mexican Layer Salad by Spaceships & Laserbeams
Mexican Rice Casserole by Mommy Hates Cooking
Black Bean Dip by Two Twenty One
Churro Cupcakes by Happiness is Homemade
Taco Salad Bites by Play Party Plan
Margarita Mix Chicken Quinoa Tacos by Strawberry Mommycakes
Homemade Churro Bites by The Idea Room
[…] amazing it tastes once you dive in. If you love easy salads like this, you’ll also enjoy our Black Bean Salsa Salad and our even our Tortellini Pasta […]