Refreshing Mango & Black Bean Salad

While I'm already seeing pumpkin spice sneaking into in my Instagram feed, I'm over here still soaking up every last minute of summertime. I won't lie that the sound of crisper mornings sounds pretty nice right about now, but nothing can compete with all of the fresh summer produce.

Since it's been so steamy lately, I've been craving meals that don't require turning on the oven, so this Mango and Black Bean salad has been a go-to. I've been loving it on its own, scooped up with tortilla chips, on a bed of Romaine, as a topping on tacos, you name it.

Not only is it insanely flavorful, but it's also packed with gut-loving, fiber-rich veggies and plant-based protein. Black beans are key in this recipe, of course, and they're one of my personal favorite pantry-staple ingredients for many reasons. They're incredibly versatile in both sweet and savory recipes, plus they provide some great health benefits.

Among other benefits, black beans may help strengthen bones, plus they contain quercetin and saponins which can protect the heart.

Check more recipes on my site that include them, such as my:

• Southwest Chicken, Brown Rice & Veggie Bowls
• Fudgey Walnut Black Bean Brownies
• Healthy Taco Pasta
• Mexican Stuffed Peppers

While black beans provide tons of texture and bulk to this salad, the real star of the show is the mango. It's one of my all-time favorite fruits and one I've been consistently enjoying this summer if you couldn't tell from the new recipes on my site.

If you're a fellow mango lover, give these additional goodies a try while they're in season:

• Healthy Mango Coconut Bread
• No-Bake Mango Coconut Ice Cream Bars
• Mango Coconut Overnight Oats
• Salmon Tacos with Mango Salsa & Cilantro Avocado Sauce

Together the black beans and mango make the perfect combo along with some red bell pepper, corn, red onion, jalapeño, and seasonings. I love that this recipe can be a full meal in itself, a "salsa" to serve as an appetizer, and more.

Give this easy salad a try, and let me know what you think!

Yields 4-6 servings

Ingredients

• 2 ripe mangos, cubed (about 2 cups)
• 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 jalapeño, minced (seeds removed)
• 1 cup corn, cooked or frozen (and thawed)
• 1/2 of a red onion, diced
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
• juice of one lime
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 2 tsp cumin
• salt & pepper to taste

Directions

1. Add all of the ingredients to a large bowl.
2. Stir gently to incorporate. Adjust seasonings to taste, and enjoy!