Thursday, March 17, 2011

Veggie cooking: Corn and Black Bean Salad


So Anita and I were talking about Oprah today, this is not a topic I usually indulge in, as in the 25 years that she has been on I can count on one hand the number of episodes I have seen in full.  Dr. Phil weirds me out.  Well the topic at hand was about healthy eating and the role of meat in the American diet.  Now I have been a vegetarian stalker since I was in high school.  I would really like to be a non-meat eater, but I have a real problem with protein, as in if I don't get enough of the stuff I get all kinds of mean. Mean is so not me, so I eat the protein. But I have always wanted to look into alternative sources beyond meat. I have since gifted myself a subscription to Vegetarian Times to learn more about meat-less eating.  My husband even agreed to have a meat free dinner every week. I learned that I really like black beans and, truth be told, I didn't think beans and I would ever get along, and I don't mean because of the gas.  Turns out I just didn't know how to make them.  I tried this really fast and tasty meat-less salad and I want to share it with you. 

Corn and Black Bean Salad:

1 can mexi-corn, drained
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/3-1/2 cup diced red onion
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1 tomato, chopped
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tsp sugar
2 tsp canola oil
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 chili powder
1/2 pepper
salt to taste

Mix the corn, black beans, red onion, cilantro, and tomato in a medium sized bowl.  In a smaller bowl whisk together the red wine vinegar, sugar, oil, spices, and salt.  Drizzle over the corn mixture and toss.  Taste and adjust salt if needed.  Chill for 30 minutes or more before serving.

If you have a favorite meat-less dish link to it in a comment for this post or send it to us in an email.  We would love to try it and post it up on the blog, with tons of fan fair and credit to you of course.  Hopefully we can get a couple of these tasty veggie or grain based recipes up each month.  Don't be shy, send main dishes, sides, appetizers, soups, and desserts.  I can't wait to try them!

Cooking with veg!
Kelly, the origami ninja

23 comments:

  1. sounds SO good! I love black beans!

    Thanks so much for linking to "20 Below Thursday"! :)

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  2. This recipe sound great! I love this type of thing... especially with summer coming up. It's a great side dish for a BBQ. On my blog, I recently made Black Bean Brownies. It sounds gross, but it's SO good (and Vegan). Also, thanks for linking up with Fun for Kids Friday Heather @ localfunforkids.com

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  3. I've been making something really similar, only the dressing is olive oil and lime juice. I make this ALL THE TIME. Whenever I serve tacos, burritos and the like.

    http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/black-bean-and-corn-salad-recipe/index.html

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  4. This sounds delicious! I'm a vegetarian, so I'll make a note to email you some of my favourite veggie recipes! :)

    Tnx for linking up at my party this weekend. :)

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  5. Hey Ninja,
    Here is a quick version of this recipe. I use can black beans when I'm pressed for time.

    Dice an 1 avocado, rinse 1 cup frozen corn under hot water, open 1 can black beans simmer in 1 cup of boiling water for 5 minutes (just to soften slightly and rinse off the can gunk)-drain, dice 1 large tomato, dice 1/2 red onion, mince 1 clove garlic, add salt and pepper (add a diced jalapeno if you want a little kick) - Great With Tortilla Chips

    You should also try Mango Salsa
    Mango, Red Onion, Jalapeno, Garlic, Salt

    Yummy
    Craft On Ninja

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  6. Sounds wonderful. I am your newest follower GFC. Glad I found you through the blog hop. Your welcome to stop by Fishful Thinking and see what I am cooking up.

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  7. Healthy and delicious! Looks yummy to me. :) Thanks for sharing.
    Humble Homemaking

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  8. Oh I hear ya with the protien... If I think too hard about the animals... And not being able to eat soy as a protien substitue, really just end any vegitarian whims I might have... I am glad you have found the beans to be a great source too! You should also look in to whey protien if you really want to try the vegi-life :)
    Thanks for linking up to Making It With Allie! I can't wait to see what you have for next week!
    AllieMakes.Blogspot.com

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  9. Glad you all are diggin the beans! I have an African chili recipe that can be meat-free or use ground beef for next week. Smiles!

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  10. Looks like a wonderful recipe. Thanks for being a part of Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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  11. seriously yummy! Gotta bookmark this one and try it. Thanks for sharing.
    xo,
    Sena

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  12. sounds great! I love something like this @ Qdoba--(the naked burrito) I was always wondering what they put on the stuff to make it yummy--I'm thinking it's similar to this and I just bought red wine vinegar :) thanks

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  13. Your recipe sounds so good!!! Thanks for sharing it and your other project on Fancy This Fridays this week!

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  14. That looks so good! I'm starving! Thank you for linking up at Ten Buck Tuesday!

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  15. I could go on and on about protein. I love vegetarian dishes and this one sounds fabulous! Thanks for linking to tickled pink! I am a new follower.
    Holly
    504 Main

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  16. Thanks for linking up with us last week. I featured this today! Come grab a button here! I'd love for you to join us again this week. Congrats on your feature!

    Krista

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  17. Ha! I love that Dr. Phil weirds you out...me too!!

    This is PERFECT for my new linky party, Foodie Friday. Please stop on over and link up!

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  18. This looks really good. Thanks for sharing this week!

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  19. My hubbie would love that! Thanks for sharing over at Tuesday Tell All.

    -Melissa

    MyCraftieLife.Blogspot.com

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  20. Lol, my boyfriend and I were just discussing this last night, about going veggie. But, I am allergic to any of the meat substitutes (except beans, not allergic to beans) such as soy and dairy. I said we should become fish-itarians! Then we went to In-n-Out Burger. Oh, well, maybe next week.....Your recipe looks delish, I so love sweet potatoes with black beans! Thanks for linking up with my Show and Share linky party.

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  21. Oooooh yum. this is one of my favorite salads and I never had a good recipe for it.
    Thanks for linking up at BeColorful
    Pam

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  22. Corn & black beans are yummy!! Happy to be a new follower. Love your blog name too, makes me smile & giggle. :) Thank you for linking up to my K.I.S.S. blog bash last week. This weeks blog bash is in full swing again!! If you haven't already please be sure & link up more of your creativity, I look forward to seeing all your great ideas. :)

    Drop by The Tattered Tag

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