Enjoying Salsa

I love salsa. For me, it’s one of those healthy, fresh foods that can be used as an accompaniment to many different dishes. In the spirit of upcoming Cinco de Mayo, I thought I’d share a salsa recipe that I’ve recently stumbled upon, thanks to my sister. I find it delicious and full of good ingredients that help nourish the body.

Black Bean Salsa:

• 2 cans black beans (canned without sugar or salt)—drained and rinsed
• 1 can corn (canned without sugar or salt)—drained and rinsed
• 1 avocado, diced
• 1 small purple onion, diced
• 2 fresh tomatoes, diced
• 1-2 tsp fresh, diced garlic
• Lime juice, to taste
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Chopped fresh cilantro, if desired

Just combine everything in a bowl and enjoy!

The reason I love this recipe is that it tastes great, it has simple ingredients, and it’s very versatile. It’s a good combination of complex carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats and vitamins and minerals. As it does pack a lot of nutrients, it's important to watch the portion sizes. Each 1/2 cup serving has about 120 calories.

This recipe is great for bulking out things like tacos, burritos or fajitas. It makes a good dip for veggies like carrots, red bell peppers and celery. This salsa can be used to top whole wheat crackers. It can be rolled up in a whole wheat or corn tortilla. You can even put it over some brown rice for dinner. I often eat a small bowl by itself, as a snack.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. You’ll have to let me know what you think!

Rachel Cope MPH, RD, CD