This Mexican inspired salad is a perfect meal all by itself or accompanied by any Mexican entrée!
I absolutely love the flavors of Mexican cuisine and wanted to come up with a salad to enjoy with other Mexican inspired meals. This has been one that I eat quite regularly.
Enjoy this salad with a crisp Mexican beer or a dry white wine.
Recipe:
2 entree serving or 4 side salads
- 4 Cups Romaine Lettuce – thinly chopped
- 1 Cup Black Beans – preferably not canned
- 2 Poblano Pepper – about 1/2 Cup – roasted
- 3/4 Cup Queso Fresco – crumbled
- 2 Small Tomato – about 1/2 Cup – diced
- 1/2 Cup Radishes – thinly sliced
- 1/2 Cup Red Cabbage – minced
- 1/2 Cup Cilantro Jalapeno Vinaigrette – or to taste
Other additional toppings
- Avacado
- Pickled Jalapenos
- Carrots
- Jack Cheese
- Tortilla Chips
Instructions:
Make the black beans and Cilantro Jalapeno Vinaigrette.
Roasted peppser
Roast the peppers on the stovetop on medium high heat. A gas stove works the best but it will work fine on an electric stove. Char the peppers on all sides turning with a pair of tongs. When good and charred, steam them for 10 minutes in a covered dish or a paper bag rolled shut to hold in the steam.
Take a paper towel and rub off the char. It’s ok to leave a little of the char. Slice in half and remove the seeds and stems.
Assemble
Measure everything and add to a large bowl then mix in the vinaigrette or top onto individual salads.
Health benefits:
Black beans are high in cholesterol lowering dietary fiber.1 cup of cooked beans provides you with over 1/2 of your daily requirements and reduces blood cholesterol that helps prevent heart disease. The fiber supports the digestive tract and the colon, which helps constipation, diverticulitis and other gastrointestinal disorders. They also maintain normal blood sugar levels, helping to prevent diabetes. Black beans are a very good meat substitute because of their 15 grams of protein in 1 cup and contain only trace amounts of saturated fat and no cholesterol. They contain phytochemicals, substances found only in plant foods that help fight cancer and other chronic diseases. They increase energy with the good amounts of iron in them and have more antioxidant (neutralize cell-damaging free radicals that may help lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, and other diseases.) activity than other types of beans. They are also rich in .B vitamins, Folate, potassium (helps regulate your blood pressure and heart rate), magnesium, calcium (builds and maintains bones) and other heart-healthy nutrients.
Cilantro is an extreme anti-oxidant immune-booster that helps detoxify the body by loosening them from the tissue, binding to and pulling out toxins and heavy metals. It helps promote a healthy liver function and is an overall digestive aid. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory that may help symptoms of arthritis and joint pain. Cilantro can lower bad cholesterol level and increase the good cholesterol level. It also helps with insulin secretion and lowers blood sugar. It is rich in essential oils, vitamins and is one of the richest herbal sources for vitamin K and dietary fiber. It is also an excellent source of omega-3, omega-6 fatty acids and calcium.
Jalapeno are a rich source of vitamin C, 1 pepper provides 18 % of the daily value for men and 23 % for women. They also have a good amount of vitamin A, which helps skin and eye health. Jalapenos contain phenols, flavonoids and capsaicinoids that help the body fight free radicals and inflammation and promote weight loss. The bioflavinoids are powerful antioxidants and help strengthen blood vessels. They also fight nasal congestion by stimulating secretions that help clear mucus from the nose. They contain more vitamin B6 aiding the immune system, E that protect the cells and K, which increases bone mass, than any other pepper.
