Black Bean Corn Salsa – Cinco de Mayo comes early!

Black Bean Corn Salsa

In case you’re like the approximately 78.64% of Americans who will feel the need to do something special this weekend in honor of Cinco de Mayo, I want to toss out a quick and simple recipe that is multi-functional.  You don’t have to be Mexican to celebrate this Mexican holiday, nor do you have to be a culinary wizard to wow with this dip/salsa/topping.  In fact, if you can chop an onion, you can make this dish.

I guess I generally call this a salsa, but too often in this country that means “tomato dip”.  It has been used as a dip (pairs beautifully with tequila-lime tortilla chips), as a topping for blackened chicken, inside of burritos, as an enticement for 2-year olds to eat their veggies…I believe this versatile recipe has nearly endless uses.  The freshness of the cilantro and lime overpower any spiciness from the peppers, and this tastes like very little else out there.

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

Try it as a chip dip

1 lb kerneled corn
2 15oz cans black beans, drained & rinsed
Juice of 6 limes (or approximately 6 Tbsp lime juice)
3 tomatoes, chopped (I used Italian plum)
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 red onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp)
1 jalapeno, seeded and finely diced
1 C chopped cilantro
2 ripe avocados, 1/2-inch diced cubes

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Juice of 6 limes (or approximately 6 Tbsp lime juice)
1 Tbsp salt
5 Tbsp oil (I used vegetable oil)
2 Tbsp cider vinegar
3/4 tsp cumin (or to taste)

Mix together the first set of ingredients ingredients, except the avocado.  To make the dressing (second set of ingredients), mix them together in a container with a sealable lid.  Shake well.  Pour over mixed ingredients.  Add avocado and gently toss so as not to bruise the avocado.  Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

Makes enough to feed a party of 12 adults as a dip, or however you wish to use it.

Quesadilla topping

There you have it.  A simple, easy recipe to create that will wow your friends, and won’t taste the same as anything else they’ve already had.  Call it your frijole y maíz salsa and they’ll be double impressed…or have twice as much to make fun of.  Either way, hilarity and good times will ensue.

Cheers.  Or rather, ¡Salud!

Linking to:

Chic on a Shoestring

The Shabby Nest

Funky Junk Interiors

Be Different Act Normal

Tatertots & Jello

Between Naps on the Porch