- Time
- 20 MIN
- Serves
- 4 (WHOLE CANS OF BEANS AND CORN)
- Skill
- PARING KNIFE
- Tools
- KNIFE, BOARD, BOWL
- Heat
- Warm
- Protein
- No cooked protein
Black beans, corn, peppers, avocado and pepper jack over romaine, with a lime and cumin dressing and crushed tortilla chips standing in for croutons. Two cans do most of the work. Rinse the beans well or they turn the whole salad gray. The chips go on at the very end so they stay loud.
The lineup
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (about 15 oz) corn, drained
- 1 bell pepper, any color, diced
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 scallions, sliced thin
- 2 romaine hearts, chopped
- 2 oz pepper jack cheese, diced small
- 2 ripe avocados, diced
- 1 handful fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 handfuls tortilla chips, crushed
- Salt and pepper
The chop
- Whisk the oil, lime juice, cumin and chili powder in the bottom of the bowl with a pinch of salt.
- Add the beans, corn, pepper, tomatoes and scallions. Toss.
- Add the romaine, cheese and cilantro. Toss until coated.
- Add the avocados and fold gently.
- Taste, then add salt, pepper and more lime until it tastes right to you.
- Scatter the crushed chips over the top.
The extras
Dodge the Carbs
Leave out the beans, corn and chips, and add a second bell pepper and 2 Persian cucumbers. With the beans and corn in, it is not low-carb.
Beef It Up
Add the meat from 1 rotisserie chicken, or see the Steak Mexican Bowl in Bring Your Own Protein.
Future You
The bean, corn and pepper mix keeps 3 days in the dressing. Add the romaine, avocado and chips when you are ready to eat.
Show Off
Swap the dressing for cilantro-lime from The Dressing Room and add pickled jalapenos.
Flavor Bomb
Add 2 tbsp of hot pepper relish or a few spoonfuls of Chunky Pantry Salsa to the dressing. Finish with a drizzle of Chipotle-Lime Mayo.
Heat Dial
Mild: leave out the chili powder and use mild cheddar. Warm: as written. Hot: a minced jalapeno, seeds in, plus Chipotle-Lime Mayo made with 2 chiles.
