With springtime BBQs in full swing and summertime cookouts on the horizon, I’m at all times looking out for a scrumptious aspect dish to make for family and friends. This black bean and brown rice salad recipe is one we’ve been making and loving in our home for years! The images lately bought a bit of refresh so I’m sharing it once more right here and hope you all proceed to take pleasure in it as a lot as we do!
How a lot will we all love recipes we will prep forward? For those who’re something like me, the reply is A LOT. If we’re internet hosting a bunch of individuals in our dwelling, the very last thing I need to be doing within the minutes earlier than everybody arrives is scrambling to place the ending touches on varied recipes. For those who fall into the same boat, preserve this black bean and brown rice salad in your again pocket as a result of it’s one you can also make upfront to assist remove same-day internet hosting stress! Extra importantly although, it’s completely scrumptious and bursting with colour, texture, taste, nutrient-dense veggies and complete grains!
Components (aka All the things You Must Make Black Bean and Brown Rice Salad)
Right here’s every part you should make this black bean and brown rice salad:
- Brown rice: I’ve a sense you knew this one was coming! To make this recipe even simpler, you need to use a type of quick-cook 90 second pouches of brown rice. I’m telling you, this recipe is a breeze!
- Cherry or Grape Tomatoes: A summertime must-have. So plump and juicy they usually add a stupendous burst of crimson to the salad.
- Corn: Belief me and minimize these things straight off the cob! It’s so candy and provides this salad a enjoyable little crunch.
- Black Beans: Rinsed and drained, please
- Inexperienced Onion: For a bit of pizzaz
- Cilantro: As a result of I’m one hundred pc Staff Cilantro. For those who’re within the camp that thinks cilantro tastes like cleaning soap, you could omit this.
- Avocado: You may’t beat the creaminess and taste
- Dressing: It’s a simple one! We’re speaking contemporary lime juice (to provide the salad a citrusy tang), olive oil, cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, salt and pepper — aka pantry staples
The way to Make Black Bean and Brown Rice Salad
No must buckle up if you learn this one as a result of the directions are straightforward peasy. The Cliff’s Notes model: Dump every part in a bowl and toss it collectively. D-O-N-E.
The I-want-to-make-sure-you-get-the-very-best-results model is barely barely extra detailed:
To make the black bean and brown rice salad, start by combining cooked brown rice, tomatoes, corn, black beans, inexperienced onion and cilantro. (I’ve additionally added bell peppers and swapped diced crimson onion to make use of rather than the inexperienced onion at this stage and have beloved them each. It’s a simple recipe to mess around with relying on what produce you’ve got readily available.)
Now it’s time to make the dressing. I name this a “dressing” nevertheless it’s not likely. Consider it extra like a flavorful little sauce. Okay so perhaps it’s a dressing, nevertheless it’s not very plentiful as a result of a bit of bit goes a great distance. Anyway to make this saucy dressing, in a small bowl mix olive oil, contemporary lime juice and your spices — garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Stir collectively till they’re fully mixed.
Now it’s time to convey every part collectively. Pour the dressing on prime of the brown rice combination and toss quite a few occasions to coat. Toss with avocado instantly earlier than serving and add any further salt and pepper. Get pleasure from!
What Goes with Black Bean and Brown Rice Salad
Although I sometimes make this black bean and brown rice salad as a aspect dish, it’s additionally great as meal. For those who’re trying to make it a bit of extra filling, think about topping it with grilled hen or shrimp or including some edamame to the combination. Whilst a aspect dish, I like it with edamame, as the extra crunch provides some enjoyable texture and the soybeans add a pleasant pop of colour in addition to protein and fiber.
In case you are not the most important fan of brown rice, this recipe is easy to customise along with your favourite grains. Merely swap out the brown rice for quinoa, barley and even wheat berries. Wheat berries and barley will end in a chewier salad I personally love!
So far as what goes with this rice and black bean salad, a few of my entree pairings embrace cilantro lime grilled shrimp, hen thighs (made with our favourite hen thigh marinade), my straightforward BBQ meatloaf and this sluggish cooker cilantro lime salsa hen.
And for any meal preppers on the market, this can be a unbelievable dish to meal prep forward on a Sunday and revel in for lunch all through the week. (Simply wait so as to add the avocado till you’re able to dig in.)
For those who determine to provide this rice and black bean salad a strive, I hope you like it as a lot as we do!
Black Bean and Brown Rice Salad
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Prepare dinner Time: 20 minutes
Whole Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 8 – 1/2 cup servings 1x
Class: aspect dishes
Description
This Black Bean and Brown Rice Salad is a chilly and engaging aspect dish bursting with colour, texture, taste, wholesome veggies and complete grains. It comes collectively in a flash and might simply be prepped forward of time.
- 1 cup cooked brown rice
- 1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup contemporary corn minimize off the cob (roughly 2 small ears)
- 1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup chopped inexperienced onion
- 1 massive bunch cilantro, chopped
- juice of 1 massive lime
- 1 avocado, minimize into small chunks
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 tablespoon chili powder
- Salt and pepper to style
Directions
- Mix cooked brown rice, tomatoes, corn, black beans, inexperienced onion and cilantro in a big bowl.
- In a small bowl, mix lime juice, olive oil, cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, salt and pepper. Combine collectively after which drizzle over the brown rice and black bean combination. Toss repeatedly to coat every part within the dressing.
- Refrigerate till able to serve. Toss with avocado instantly earlier than serving and revel in!
Notes
Although I sometimes make this black bean and brown rice salad as a aspect dish, it’s additionally great as meal. For those who’re trying to make it a bit of extra filling, think about topping it with grilled hen or shrimp or including some edamame to the combination.
It’s unbelievable as leftovers, too, however I’d advocate maintaining the avocado on the aspect so you need to use it to prime particular person parts. Then, if you’re able to take pleasure in this dish once more as leftovers, slice up some contemporary avocado. This fashion you don’t have any brown avocado in your leftover salad.
For those who aren’t a fan of brown rice, quinoa, barley and even wheat berries can be utilized on this dish rather than the rice. (Wheat berries and barley will end in a chewier salad I personally love!)
Vitamin
- Serving Dimension: 1/2 cup
- Energy: 145 energy
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fats: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 5g
Get pleasure from!!!
