Spicy black bean salad with lime and cilantro #recipe #mystery #giveaway @AbbottMysteries

What is more refreshing than lime and cilantro? And they both go so well with black beans. If you know us, you know that we love our bean salads. They are especially good if you are trying to bring down the carbs and also great if you’re going gluten-free.  If you just want to increase the proportion of veggies to ‘other’ then they are for you. Plus, like the gift that keeps on giving, they are better the next day. Most of our bean or lentil salads are savory, but the lime and cilantro give this one an exotic taste, that is ramped up by the seasonings.   

I wanted it as a side for our annual writers get together at Lake of Bays, Ontario. I tested it at home and DH and I both loved it. At the writers’ get together, Linda and I were a team for dinner. Because of the lime and cilantro, this went well with the chicken skewers and peanut sauce.  I’ll post the chicken skewers and peanut sauce recipe in two weeks! Wait for it.  

 This black bean salad is very pretty and everyone liked it, although I did forget the avocado on day one.  I added that the second day for lunch and and one more ingredient.   It was a hit both days.

All in all, we find this recipe to be a keeper. I think you can mix and match veggies as long as you keep to the essential lime and cilantro ingredients.  Giveaway alert:  we’ll have a draw for a copy of The Hammett Hex (or substitute). All you have to do is spot the new ingredient in the second version and mention in a comment.  Get your detective chefs hats on and good luck!

All you need for Spicy Black Bean Salad with Lime and Cilantro

      1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed well

1 yellow bell pepper, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

2 medium cloves garlic, minced

      1 medium tomato, seeded and chopped

      2 green onions, sliced (white and green)

1 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon Sriracha

2 tablespoons sugar ( I usually use Splenda)

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon lime zest

Juice from 3 1/2 limes

3/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro plus some for garnish

1 ripe avocado chopped

All you do is:

Rinse and drain beans.

Dice peppers, We're just showing the yellow here.

Seed and chop tomato.

Slice green onions.

Chop cilantro.  Not sure where that photo went!

Combine all veggies except for avocado in a large bowl and mix well. 

In a pitcher, combine oil, limes zest and juice, salt, sugar and Sriracha.  

 Please notice the size of Sriracha I had to buy to get the one tsp.  The avocado will give you a sense of proportion.  Have since found smaller containers, but you can expect to find Sriracha as an ingredient in many recipes to come.

Mix dressing into salad.  Cover and chill at least 30 minutes or even overnight. Right before serving, chop avocado, add to salad and fold gently, being careful not to squish the avocado..  Serve the salad at room temperature.

With the chicken and Linda's great veggie dish (coming soon!), it was a hit.  

Any suggestions for how to change this up (as they say).  You can see what I did, but what would you add or subtract from it?  

Here it is on day two, with an addition and the avocado.

 

Happy eating everyone!

Mystery Lovers Kitchen is celebrating it’s

7th anniversary!

7 years of recipes, books, and loads of fun.

As we begin our 8th year of the blog,

help us celebrate by entering our photo contest.

5 people will win a Mystery Lovers' Kitchen tote bag

and the 9 mysteries shown below - one from each of us!

Don't delay, enter today!

Here's how it goes:

1. Take a picture of any one OR MORE of our books (does not have to be one shown above) in the following categories:

a) with a cat

b) with a dog

c) having summer fun

d) in a library

e) in a bookstore

Whose books?

Why the 9 Mystery Lovers Kitchen authors, of course.

Krista Davis * Cleo Coyle *  Leslie Budewitz  

Daryl Wood Gerber * Lucy Burdette * Linda Wiken  

Sheila Connolly * Peg Cochran* Victoria Abbott

...do what you gotta do! There's a sweet prize at stake.

2. Submit your picture below.

Submission period ends midnight July 25th.

3. Share your entry (on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or else-wise,

we'll be flexible). 

We'll choose one winner in each category!

5 chances to win! Good luck!

In case you don't know, Victoria Abbott is a collaboration between  me, Mary Jane Maffini, and my daughter Victoria. Together we write the book collector mysteries.   We think that reading them is like taking a lovely trip to a mysterious place where books are everything and, yes, murder happens and great meals are served and some relatives are not to be trusted. Of course, justice prevails in the end and books are loved.

 

We like to think our book collector mysteries are fun, easy to read and surprising too. All five titles are available in print, e-book and audio format. Don't miss out.  You can get to meet Peachy (posing below) aka Walter the Pug.  Watch out for the Siamese cats - one is good and one will get you!

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Get in on more fun with  our email newsletter.  All you need to do to get on the list is ask us RIGHT HERE

Here are some of MJ's books: set in Canada's capital with feisty lawyer Camilla MacPhee and various fleeing felons and frustrating family. Trust me,  Jordan doesn't have a monopoly on unusual family and friends.  This series is very well priced now in e-books, but also available in print. 

We’re also on Facebook and love to hear from you.  Click to link to Mary Jane Maffini

and Victoria Abbott

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