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Easy Zesty Canned Bean Salad Recipe for Quick Fresh Meals

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A quick, fresh, and flavorful canned bean salad featuring a zesty lime and cumin dressing. Perfect for last-minute meals, packed with pantry staples, and ready in under 15 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1 small red bell pepper, finely diced
  • 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 cup (150 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/4 cup (15 g) fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
  • 1 small jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional)
  • 3 tbsp (45 ml) fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
  • 2 tbsp (30 ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) honey or maple syrup
  • 1 tsp (2 g) ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp (1 g) smoked paprika
  • 1/4 tsp (1 g) salt, or to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Drain and rinse the canned beans thoroughly under cold water. Let them drain for about 2 minutes.
  2. Finely dice the red bell pepper and red onion. Halve the cherry tomatoes and mince the jalapeño, removing seeds if less heat is desired. Chop the fresh cilantro if using. To soften onion sharpness, soak chopped onion in cold water for 5 minutes, then drain.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together fresh lime juice, olive oil, honey, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until fully combined and slightly emulsified.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained beans and chopped vegetables. Pour the dressing over and toss gently but thoroughly to coat evenly.
  5. Let the salad rest for at least 10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld. For best flavor, refrigerate for 30 minutes if time allows.
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or lime juice as needed. Drizzle extra olive oil before serving if salad seems dry.

Notes

Rinse beans thoroughly to reduce sodium and canned taste. Use gentle folding to avoid mushy beans. Fresh lime juice is preferred for best flavor. Adjust jalapeño amount to control heat. Salad improves in flavor after resting or chilling. Use maple syrup instead of honey for vegan option. Do not freeze salad as texture will suffer.

Nutrition

Keywords: bean salad, canned beans, quick salad, zesty salad, lime dressing, vegan salad, gluten-free salad, easy recipe

Find it online: https://siennaspoon.com/easy-zesty-canned-bean-salad-recipe-for-quick-fresh-meals/