Heirloom Tomato Black Bean Salad
/This salad is the perfect way to savor the bountiful tastes of late summer! When it comes to tomatoes… the uglier is many times the most prized. Heirloom tomatoes have usually been grown from seeds passed down from grandmothers to daughters sometimes for generations. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, which is very beneficial for women’s heart health and supports glowing skin and may ward off some reproductive cancers - they are like anti-aging lobes of goodness! But please don’t put them in the refrigerator… these beauties are meant to ripen naturally until bursting with that unmistakable bright flavor.
Ingredients
2 cloves garlic, minced
Juice from 1/2 lime (or lemon)
1 tablespoon lime zest
1 teaspoon cumin
1.5 cups cooked black beans (or 1 15 oz can black beans, rinsed)
1 cup mixed peppers, cut into bite-size pieces
2 cups heirloom grape or cherry tomatoes, quartered or halved
2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 cup fresh mint, chopped
Sea salt and pepper
Instructions
Place minced garlic in your favorite small serving bowl. Mix in lime juice and cumin.
Add beans, peppers and tomatoes. Mix together gently.
Sprinkle with seeds, parsley, mint and zest.
Drizzle with olive oil. Mix and salt/season to taste.
Serve atop a bed of arugula or as a side with some grilled fish or chicken. This salad gets better hanging out in the fridge for a few hours so a great option to make ahead!
