A few weeks ago Wouter was working in Los Angeles and I had the week at home to myself. Busy with photo shoots and faced with all the craft services tables and lunches every day on set, I decided to make sure I ate cleaner and healthier when at home,
My friend Terry is always referring to her “bean diet”…I am not sure what that is exactly..but she swears by it. With this bag of “Orca Beans”, also known as Calypso or Yin Yang Beans, and the recipe on the back of the package as my guide, I made a killer salad and went on my own version of the “bean diet”.
As you probably know from lots of past blog posts I am a big fan of Bob’s Red Mill products and these Orca Heritage Beans are no exception. I had not seen this particular type of bean before, but the black and white random patterning…much like an Orca Whale….
…appealed to me very much. These particular beans came from Washington state, but they can be found in Mexico as well.
Wonderous dried beans deliver lots of flavor, protein and are easy to cook. Blended with mangoes, oranges and avocados, lime juice and jalapeno peppers they become even tastier.
Rinsed and cooked in water with salt and pepper….drained and cooled down…..
…tossed with fresh ingredients….
…this salad gets better each day.
A killer Orca Bean salad….Bon Appetit!
Killer Orca Bean Salad with Mangoes, Oranges & Avocados
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Orca Beans, rinsed & drained
- 4-6 cups water
- salt & black pepper for cooking beans
- 2 cups chopped fresh mango (peeled)
- 1 cup chopped fresh orange (peeled, de-seeded) with juices
- 2 Tbsp minced jalapeno pepper
- juice of one lime
- salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin powder
- 1 to 2 fresh avocados chopped (peeled & seeded)
Directions:
- Place beans in a pot with the water and season with salt & black pepper. Bring to a boil, turn to simmer and cook just until beans are softened (but not mushy). Drain cooked beans in a colander and rinse with cool water. Let drain for a few minutes.
- Put cooked, cooled & drained beans in a large bowl along with the chopped mango, orange and jalapeno pepper.
- Add lime juice, salt & black pepper to taste and cumin powder and toss gently. Add chopped avocado if serving immediately, otherwise cover and chill salad and add avocado right before serving. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking. This salad keeps chilled for 3 to 4 days. It just gets better and better!
Adios sweet, cool April and Hello warm May.
https://www.teresablackburnfoodstyling.com
That looks beautiful and delicious!…bean diet indeed…..
I know! Indeed!
I know isn’t that the best? Bean Diet indeed! Who knew? Thanks sweet daughter.
Oh my, what photogenic beans! The flavor combinations sound delicious. And yes, go away cool, wet April, give me some warmth and sunshine!
Ha! Yes it does seem it is getting warmer here in Nashville, Tennessee all of a sudden! Time to change our eating style and look for all that Spring produce to hit the markets very soon. Thanks so much and hope wherever you are it is getting warmer as well.
Gorgeous salad – like a fancy cowboy salad. I love the orcas!! 🙂
Thanks so much and yes it is a bit like a fancy cowboy salad is it not? The orcas made me smile as the name was so obvious! Any bean would work of course. Happy May.
🙂 me, tto!
That looks so good!
It really is and I hope you try this easy recipe knowing that you could use any bean that you like, not necessarily the Orcas! Black beans or Cannellini would be great as well. Thanks for stopping by.
Never had orca bean but now I sure want some! When I’m home alone I like to cook simple clean dishes too and I can’t wait to try this one, probably with black beans until I find the killer orcas, for a killer salad! So gorgeous too Teresa!
Thanks so much Johanne. I have been so busy this Spring working and away from my computer much of the time that I now have to catch up with “the French Gardener Dishes” and check out what I have missed. Your posts are always a joy and make me very happy to see all your flowers and homey images, not to mention the great food! Happy May.
Thanks so much Teresa! I love seeing your professional work on Instagram and thrilled your work is being featured. I have been a huge fan of yours.
How strikingly beautiful is your killer orca salad Teresa. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen the bean before, but it surely creates a gorgeous dish. Now add, mangoes, avocado and oranges? I could eat this for breakfast, lunch AND dinner. The cumin and jalapeno and lime juice would pack a mean punch I’m sure. Yum!
You know Loretta the week that I made this and was “home alone” I pretty much ate it for 4 nights straight and would have had for lunch as well but was on photo shoots! Really this salad could be made with any beans whatsoever. Thanks for stopping by.