Bright, refreshing, and bursting with bold flavors, this Black Bean and Mandarin Orange Salad is a vibrant side dish or light meal that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. Perfectly balanced with hearty black beans, sweet mandarin oranges, crunchy red bell pepper, and a hint of heat from jalapeño, this salad is tied together by a zesty, citrus-infused dressing made with lime juice, honey, and smoky cumin. Ready in just 15 minutes with no cooking required, it’s the ultimate quick and easy recipe for busy weeknights or meal preps. Packed with color, nutrients, and a delightful mix of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors, this salad is sure to become a crowd-pleasing favorite. Serve it chilled or at room temperature for a healthy, gluten-free, and vegetarian-friendly dish perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a light lunch!
Drain and rinse the black beans thoroughly and place them in a large mixing bowl.
Open the can of mandarin oranges, drain the liquid, and add the orange segments to the bowl with the black beans.
Dice the red bell pepper into small, bite-sized pieces and add it to the bowl.
Chop the fresh cilantro and add it to the mixture.
Finely chop half of the red onion and add it to the bowl.
Seed and finely dice the jalapeño, adding it to the salad. For a milder flavor, remove the seeds and membrane.
In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, honey, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.
Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and gently toss everything together to ensure even coating.
Let the salad sit for about 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
Serve the salad chilled or at room temperature. Enjoy!
Calories |
406 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 29.2 g | 37% | |
| Saturated Fat | 4.4 g | 22% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2.7 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 1521 mg | 66% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 30.5 g | 11% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 8.6 g | 31% | |
| Total Sugars | 10.5 g | ||
| Protein | 7.7 g | 15% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 110 mg | 8% | |
| Iron | 3.0 mg | 17% | |
| Potassium | 454 mg | 10% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.