May I say, right from the start, that I never liked black beans until I had this salad in Zacatecas, Mexico. Black beans are a Mexican staple food. The beans add a hearty protein element. Avocados are also prominent in Mexican dishes. Used as Guacamole, avocados bring a creamy texture and healthy fats to the mix. This black bean avocado salad draws inspiration from Mexican cuisine through its key ingredients and flavors. And maybe that is why I loved it.
Most of the salad’s ingredients are commonly found in Mexican cuisine, such as cilantro, lime, and corn. Sometimes, even some spicy elements like chipotle pepper in adobo sauce (I’ve shared an alternative down below – just in case you can’t get it from where you are!) are chopped. The flavors and ingredients evoke the vibrant, zesty essence often associated with Mexican food.
Combining these elements creates a salad that mirrors the flavors and textures found in Mexican cuisine. The result is an authentic Mexican-inspired dish. You simply have to try it.
The black bean avocado salad recipe card is a bit further down.
This easy recipe makes about 8 servings and takes about 15 minutes to prepare once the ingredients are ready.
For me, the salad hands work better than the salad tongs.
My versatile go-to salad bowl is one that I love. It works for any themed salad!
You can typically find chipotle peppers in adobo sauce in the international or Hispanic foods section of most grocery stores. Here are a few places where you might find them:
International Foods Aisle: Many stores have a section dedicated to international or Latin American foods. Look for canned goods or Mexican ingredients; chipotle peppers in adobo sauce are usually in small cans or jars.
Hispanic Foods Section: Some stores have a specific aisle or section dedicated to Hispanic or Mexican ingredients. You’re likely to find chipotle peppers in adobo sauce alongside other Mexican staples like salsas, spices, and canned goods.
Canned Foods Aisle: In some stores, these peppers might be located in the canned goods aisle, possibly near other Mexican ingredients or alongside other canned peppers and sauces.
Look for small cans or jars labeled “Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce.” They’re often recognizable by their distinctive packaging and should contain whole or chopped chipotle peppers immersed in a reddish-brown, tangy, and slightly smoky adobo sauce.
Food is one of the easiest ways to keep exploring long after a trip ends. You don’t need a plane ticket to discover another corner of the world. Sometimes, it starts with what you put on the table.
This Mexican-inspired salad brings together the smoky heat of chipotle, the freshness of lime and cilantro, creamy avocado, black beans, corn, and a touch of mango. Serve it outside on a warm evening, add a colorful tablecloth, put on some Mexican music, and suddenly dinner feels a little less ordinary.
And that is what we love about recipes from around the world. We explore places for their landscapes, streets, people, traditions, and food. Then we bring some of that inspiration home with us.
Explore the world. Bring its beauty home.
Perhaps this salad has put Mexico on your mind. Beyond the flavors on the plate lies a country of colorful streets, historic towns, lively markets, remarkable landscapes, and regional food traditions that change as you travel.
So, don’t stop at the recipe. Come explore a little more of Mexico with us.
Sharing the places I’ve come to love. – Arina ♡
