Pinto Bean Salad with Lime (Printable)

Tender pinto beans tossed with crisp vegetables in a tangy lime dressing. Ready in just 15 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beans & Base

01 - 2 cups cooked pinto beans, rinsed and drained if canned

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
04 - 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
06 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Dressing

07 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
09 - 1 clove garlic, minced
10 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
11 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
13 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# Steps:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, add the pinto beans, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, diced red bell pepper, chopped red onion, and fresh cilantro. Toss gently to distribute ingredients evenly.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, lime juice, minced garlic, ground cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper until fully emulsified.
03 - Pour the prepared dressing over the bean and vegetable mixture. Using a spoon or salad tongs, toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated with the lime dressing.
04 - Taste the salad and add additional salt or pepper if desired to balance the flavors.
05 - Serve immediately for a crisp texture, or refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together for a more developed taste.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in literally fifteen minutes start to finish
  • The flavors actually get better after sitting in the fridge for a day
  • You can serve it alongside literally anything or just eat it straight from the bowl with a spoon
02 -
  • Don't skip the step of rinsing your canned beans or the whole thing will taste oddly metallic
  • The salad needs at least fifteen minutes to marinate for the beans to really absorb all that lime and spice
  • Red onion can overpower everything so keep those pieces tiny and finely chopped
03 -
  • Cut all your vegetables roughly the same size so every bite has the perfect balance
  • Let the dressing sit for five minutes before whisking to soften the sharp edge of the raw garlic

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