Blackeye Peas Please

I have lately found a new found love for beans.  They are absolutely amazing.  From eating roasted chickpeas by gallons to adding chickpeas to vegetables, I still do not understand why they are not a staple in every cuisine.  Beans are cheap, incredibly nutritious and filled with protein.  They do cause a little night problem so do not eat them on a date and make sure there is a bed made for your husband in the spare room (for me a living room couch).  Some see it as problem some as opportunity: whenever you need extra bed space or nice undisturbed sleep, make this salad.

For the dressing you will need: 2 garlic cloves, 1/8 tsp cumin, 1 lime juiced,1/8 tsp lime zest, 1 tsp salt, 1/4 cup olive oil, pinch of sugar, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro.

For the salad:  2 (12oz) bags of frozen black eye peas (cooked according to directions on the package), 1 large tomato, 1/2 small red onion, 1 serrano or jalapeno chili, 2 avocados.

Just because I have bought myself a mortal and pestle about a month ago I decided to take it out of the box and use it.

If you have not had a chance to make an impulse buy like this yet, smash your garlic cloves with the side of the knife, mash and shmear with the side of the knife sprinkling with salt until it becomes a thick paste.

add lime zest

cumin and a pinch of sugar

when mixed squeeze in the juice of one lime

add 1/4 of good olive oil

You can add little bit mix well

add the rest of the oil and mix very well

add the cilantro and set aside.  This is your dressing.  It does taste a little sour but don’t worry it will work perfectly with the rest.

Chop the red onion into small pieces

cut the edges off the hot pepper, seed it and finely chop

Cut the avocados in half, seed and dice

do the same with the tomato, cut, seed and dice

throw all the vegetables into a bowl, add cooked black eye peas

add the reserved dressing and toss

You can make this salad ahead of time.  Just make sure you do not add the avocado until ready to serve or else it will be brown and nasty looking.  I love this by itself or with chips.  My waistline likes it by itself.  My soul loves it over grilled fish or pork chops with chips.