Black Bean and Veggie Bowl (Printable version)

Vibrant bowl with black beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado, and cilantro in zesty lime dressing. Ready in 15 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
02 - 1 ripe avocado, diced
03 - 1 cup canned corn kernels, drained and rinsed
04 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced

→ Legumes

05 - 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed

→ Herbs

06 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

→ Dressing

07 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
08 - Juice of 1 lime
09 - 1 teaspoon honey or agave syrup
10 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
11 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Optional Toppings

12 - 1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds
13 - 2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese

# Directions:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime juice, honey or agave, cumin, salt, and pepper until well combined.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and half the cilantro.
03 - Pour the dressing over the mixture and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
04 - Divide the mixture between two bowls. Top each with diced avocado, remaining cilantro, pumpkin seeds, and feta cheese if desired.
05 - Serve immediately for optimal freshness and texture.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes flat, no stove required, perfect for when you need something wholesome but have zero patience.
  • The lime dressing is bright enough to make even ordinary canned beans taste restaurant-quality and exciting.
  • You can customize it endlessly based on what's hiding in your pantry or what you're craving that day.
02 -
  • Don't toss the entire bowl together and let it sit—the avocado will oxidize and the textures will soften if left to marinate too long.
  • The dressing is what makes this bowl work; don't be tempted to skip the whisking step or use bottled dressing, as the freshness of lime juice truly cannot be replaced.
03 -
  • If your avocado is still too firm, cut it into the bowl and drizzle the dressing directly on the pieces—the lime juice will soften and almost cure it slightly, making it taste more sophisticated.
  • Make extra dressing; you'll want to drizzle more over the top just before eating because the vegetables will absorb what you initially toss them with.
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