Black Bean Salad with Corn and Avocado

👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients

Avocado, chopped kale, canned jalapeños, Dijon, shallot, cilantro, maple syrup, lime, orzo rice, sweet corn, and black beans.

Orzo is a thin, oval, rice-shaped pasta. It is made from semolina, a coarser, golden flour that comes from durum wheat. You can also purchase a whole-wheat version. It is traditionally used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines, especially in Greek and Italian dishes.

Jalapeño juice is the liquid from a can or jarred sliced jalapeños. I used the La Morena brand, but any brand will work. This is a cheap and easy ingredient for packing in flavor and warmth into a dressing.

Black beans are an excellent source of fiber, which helps promote digestive health, regulate blood sugar levels, and support weight management. They contain complex carbohydrates that are digested slowly, in addition to protein, antioxidants, iron and magnesium.

See recipe card for quantities.

📖 Instructions

Cooked orzo rice in a large white nonstick skillet with a wooden handle.

Step 1. Cook orzo rice, or plain orzo, or a different grain of your choice.

Salad dressing in a grey bowl with a silver whisk beside a jar of opened pickled jalapeños.

Step 2. Make the dressing: In a small bowl, mix the jalapeño juice, lime juice, maple syrup, and Dijon mustard.

Salad dressing with sliced shallots in a grey bowl with a silver whisk beside a jar of opened pickled jalapeños.

Step 3. Transfer the shallots to the dressing. Mix and set aside.

Black beans, avocado, corn, shallots, cilantro, kale, and orzo rice in a glass bowl.

Step 4. In a large bowl, combine the black beans, corn, kale, parsley, orzo, and dressing. Mix well to fully incorporate the dressing. Add avocado for serving to make Black Bean Salad with Corn and Avocado.

🥑 Substitutions

Orzo - instead of orzo, use Orzo Rice, quinoa, farro, couscous, or barley

Black beans - use chickpeas or white beans instead

Corn - use thawed frozen corn, or fresh corn from the cob

Shallots - substitute with chopped red onion as desired

Juice of canned jalapeños - use sweet pickle juice instead

Cilantro - substitute with fresh parley or fresh herbs you have on hand

Try these Quinoa Black Bean Burgers on my site for the ultimate vegan burger recipe! Visit my Vegan Bean Recipes page for more salads with beans.

🙋🏽‍♀️ Recipe FAQs

How nutritious is orzo?

You will get more fiber from this pasta by choosing orzo made from whole grain flour instead of white flour. While white orzo is a low-fiber food, it is fortified with thiamin, niacin, B6, folate, iron, and zinc. Plus, when paired with high-fiber foods, such as black beans, kale, and avocado as in this Black Bean Salad with Corn and Avocado, orzo can be a part of a healthful diet.

Are black beans healthy?

Black beans are naturally gluten-free and vegan, and high in protein and iron. They also pack in more magnesium and fiber than their counterparts.

How long do jalapeños in juice last?

An opened jar of jalapeños will last up to two months in the refrigerator. You can also freeze jarred jalapeños for up to six months and thaw them prior to use. (Freezing might give the canned peppers may give them a bit of a mushy texture.)

📖 Recipe