Here’s an easy salad with a Southwestern flair. A tasty combo of avocado and pinto beans, this goes well with simple quesadillas and other tortilla specialties that don’t themselves contain beans. This also makes a great portable lunch along with stoneground tortilla chips and some seasonal fruit. Photos by Hannah Kaminsky.

Avocado and Pinto Bean Salad
Here’s an easy salad with a Southwestern flair. A tasty combo of avocado and pinto beans, this goes well with simple quesadillas and other tortilla specialties that don’t themselves contain beans.
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Servings: 3 to 4
Ingredients
- 15- to 16- ounce can drained and rinsed pinto beans or 1 1/2 to 2 cups cooked, or see Variation below recipe box
- 2 medium tomatoes diced
- 1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
- 2 scallions thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons lime juice or to taste
- 1/4 cup vinaigrette prepared or homemade, or as needed to moisten
- Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- 1 medium avocado pitted, peeled, and diced
Instructions
- Combine the beans, tomatoes, cilantro, vinaigrette, and pepper in a serving bowl and toss well. This much can be made ahead.
- Just before serving, stir in the diced avocado.
Variation: Substitute other favorite beans — red, black, pink, etc., for the pinto beans. Whatever you have on hand will be good in this!
- Explore Bean Salads for more easy, tasty ideas.
13 Comments
Elizabeth Larson
February 11, 2014 at 1:14 pmEasy enough to make this your tortilla filling……..add some raw jalapenos minced and some onion and voila!
Nava
February 11, 2014 at 1:16 pmFabulous idea, Elizabeth! Just gave me the idea that one can also add lots of chopped lettuce or baby spinach or arugula, and make an awesome wrap, too.
Gina Pagan
February 12, 2014 at 11:53 amLove the recipes
Nava
February 12, 2014 at 1:32 pmThank you, Gina!
susan
February 12, 2014 at 12:05 pmThis would be yum in a lettuce wrap….especially butter lettuce! Mmm
Nava
February 12, 2014 at 1:32 pmSuch a good idea, Susan — thanks!
Marissa
February 12, 2014 at 1:29 pmAny other alternatives to the vinaigrette? I can’t can’t stand the taste!
Nava
February 12, 2014 at 1:31 pmMarissa, just add extra lime juice to taste, and if you’d like, a little more olive oil. Or, you can just sub your favorite all-natural salad dressing altogether — it’s all about what tastes best to you!
Chris
February 12, 2014 at 1:45 pmMarissa I think even Ranch would be good.
Pamela
February 13, 2014 at 3:44 pmI will be making this tonight!
Vodzoo
April 21, 2014 at 2:16 pmIt is easy and so delicious! I have to do three times bigger portion every time and it disappear in a moment. Perfect when you invite some guests!
Nava
April 21, 2014 at 4:45 pmThanks! So glad you enjoyed this.
Linda
May 31, 2014 at 9:35 amI would add a little cumin and it would be great with black beans as well.