A spiced black bean salad loaded with roasted peppers and grilled Lightlife Smart Dogs
This post is sponsored by Lightlife. On a flavor scale of 1-10, this black bean salad is a solid nine! And on a "how easy is this black bean salad to make?" I'd have to give it a 10. Seriously, people, you can knock out this sassy summer salad in about 30 minutes. So why did I call it sassy? Well, it has a spicy kick to it but not really a hot sauce kinda heat. It's more of a South American cumin-lime-cilantro deal.
How nutritious is this black bean salad?
Super nutritious! Not only is the fiber from the black beans killing it, you have the protein kick from the Lightlife Smart Dogs, too. And at only 50 calories per dog compared to 180 calories for a regular beef hotdog, you can relax and feel good when the holidays come around. Smart Dogs are made from plant-protein, so things like soy, chickpeas, quinoa, and beans are the leaders for protein.
Tips for making the best black bean salad.
Along with the Smart Dogs, you'll find two peppers, green and yellow, red onion, black beans, roasted corn and fresh cilantro. The peppers are roasted which adds an extra smoky flavor to the salad. I also grilled an avocado, which if you've never done, it should be on your bucket list. Just a little salt and black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil are all it takes to raise the bar for avocado flavor! I love to drizzle my Smart Dogs with olive oil too, this helps them bubble up on the grill and I love that charred taste you end up with.
Substitutions
If you really can't deal with black beans then sure, you can switch them up for another bean. Remember I mentioned that beans, in general, are one of the items on the plant protein good guy list! My second choice would be pinto beans or garbanzo's in a close second choice. Can't I just skip the whole pepper roasting ritual? No, the extra flavor is worth too much to not do it, and I love the smell of them as they burn over the gas burner on the stove.
Finish the salad by tossing all of the veggies together with the cumin and lime vinaigrette, then add the thinly sliced Smart Dogs and a big handful of freshly chopped cilantro for the ultimate Latin Kick! Don't forget that grilled avocado which can be diced and scooped out onto the top of the salad. I guarantee that your friend's and guests will love this one!
