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Fresh Cowboy Caviar with Zesty Lime Vinaigrette

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A fresh, crunchy, and tangy salad featuring black beans, sweet corn, bell peppers, avocado, and a zesty lime vinaigrette. Perfect for summer gatherings and easy to prepare in under 20 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup sweet corn kernels, fresh or frozen and thawed
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
  • 1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced
  • 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 ripe avocado, diced
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • For the Zesty Lime Vinaigrette:
  • 3–4 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon honey or agave syrup
  • 1 small clove garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Rinse and drain the canned black beans thoroughly.
  2. Chop the red and green bell peppers into small, even dice (about 1/4-inch pieces).
  3. Halve the cherry tomatoes and finely dice the red onion.
  4. Roughly chop the cilantro leaves, avoiding tough stems.
  5. If using fresh corn, shuck the ears and slice the kernels off the cob with a sharp knife. If frozen, thaw and drain well.
  6. In a large bowl, combine the black beans, corn, bell peppers, tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro. Toss gently to mix.
  7. In a small bowl, whisk together the fresh lime juice, olive oil, honey, minced garlic, ground cumin, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste.
  8. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad mixture and toss gently to coat, being careful to keep the avocado intact.
  9. Add the diced avocado last and gently fold it in.
  10. Chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.
  11. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

[‘Add avocado just before serving to prevent browning; squeeze lime juice on avocado if prepping ahead.’, ‘Drain beans and corn well to avoid watery salad.’, ‘Adjust lime juice and honey to balance acidity and sweetness.’, ‘Mix gently to keep avocado intact and maintain texture.’, ‘Chill salad for at least 30 minutes for best flavor.’, ‘Optional: Add crumbled queso fresco or feta before serving for extra flavor.’, ‘For a spicy kick, add diced jalapeño or cayenne pepper to the vinaigrette.’, ‘Substitute honey with agave or maple syrup for a vegan vinaigrette.’, ‘Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: cowboy caviar, black bean salad, summer salad, lime vinaigrette, fresh salad, easy salad, gluten-free, vegan option

Find it online: https://bitefuljoy.com/fresh-cowboy-caviar-recipe-easy-zesty-lime-vinaigrette-salad-perfect-for-summer/