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Black Bean and Brown Rice Salad

May 18, 2017 by Julie 43 Comments

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Black Bean Brown Rice Salad

A little over a week ago, Ryan and I found out that our new neighbors were big fans of Survivor and tuned in every Wednesday night to watch the reality show unfold. Since Ryan and I were borderline convinced we were the only Survivor fans remaining, we had to take advantage of stumbling upon local fans and planned a casual watch-party cookout (no pants required for those under two years old).

Ryan Chase Cookout 21 months

We figured it would be an excuse to get way too into the reality show and a great way to get to know our new neighbors over yummy food! (Two more of our neighbor friends joined us as well even though they aren’t Survivor fans. The more the merrier!)

Healthy Cookout Food

Since the cookout was a super casual gathering, I didn’t feel a ton of pressure to entertain and kept everything very simple. I planned out easy but delicious dishes and did all of the shopping for our cookout at ALDI. The vast majority of the produce I purchased was organic and the chips, salsa and pantry staples I brought home were almost all from the ALDI SimplyNature line, which is super affordable, includes a lot of organic items and is completely free of any artificial colors or flavors.

ALDI Groceries

You guys, I am honestly blown away by my grocery bill every time I leave ALDI. Ever since Ryan and I visited the revamped Mooresville location after church a few weeks ago following my friend Jess’ praises about their affordable organic foods, I’ve tried to pop in whenever I find myself in the area because the prices and quality cannot be beat. (In our area, the organic produce at ALDI is honestly cheaper than many of our local grocery store’s conventional produce. It’s crazy!)

In the end, our spread included ALDI grass fed organic burgers ($5.29 a pound!), fresh peppers and hummus, grapes, a chopped Asian salad, a selection of ALDI wines, roasted sweet potatoes, baked beans and a Black Bean and Brown Rice Salad that ended up being a crowd favorite.

Cookout

ALDI Grassfed Beef

I am ALL about side dishes I can prep ahead of time that require minimal work, and when they’re also healthy and packed with varying colors, flavors and nutrients, I cannot get enough! To make the Black Bean and Brown Rice Salad we all loved so much, I cooked up a batch of SimplyNature Quick Cook Brown Rice and let it chill in the refrigerator while I chopped organic cherry tomatoes, cilantro and green onions and sliced sweet corn off the cob.

Brown Rice and Black Bean Salad

Once everything was ready, I combined the rice and chopped produce with SimplyNature Organic Black Beans and a mix of SimplyNature Organic Spices and Stonemilll Chili Powder before adding avocado to the salad immediately before serving and tossing everything together. It was such a tasty and simple dish and I loved the combination of whole grains, vegetables and spices. It was a hit for sure!

Brown Rice Black Bean Salad

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Black Bean and Brown Rice Salad

  • Author: Julie (PB Fingers)
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 8 - 1/2 cup servings 1x
  • Category: side dishes
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Description

This Black Bean and Brown Rice Salad is a cold and tasty side dish bursting with color, texture, flavor, healthy veggies and whole grains. It comes together in a flash and can easily be prepped ahead of time. Thank you so much to ALDI for sponsoring this post! To find an ALDI near you check out their store locator here!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup cooked SimplyNature Quick Cook Brown Rice
  • 1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup fresh corn cut off the cob (approximately 2 small ears)
  • 1 15-ounce can SimplyNature Organic Black Beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 cup chopped green onion
  • 1 large bunch cilantro, chopped
  • juice of 1 large lime
  • 1 avocado, cut into small chunks
  • 1 tablespoon SimplyNature Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon SimplyNature Organic Ground Cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon SimplyNature Organic Ground Garlic
  • 1/2 tablespoon Stonemill chili powder
  • Stonemill salt and pepper to taste

 


Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients except for the avocado in a large bowl. Toss to coat everything in the spices, olive oil and lime juice.
  2. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Top with avocado immediately before serving and enjoy!

Notes

Though I served this dish as a side dish, it’s also wonderful as meal. If you’re looking to make it a little more filling, consider topping it with grilled chicken or shrimp or adding some edamame to the mix! It’s fantastic as leftovers, too, though the avocado does brown a bit.

If you aren’t a fan of brown rice, quinoa, barley or even wheat berries can be used in this dish in place of the rice. (Wheat berries and barley will result in a chewier salad.)


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/2 cup
  • Calories: 145 calories
  • Sugar: 1g
  • Sodium: 110mg
  • Fat: 5g
  • Carbohydrates: 21g
  • Fiber: 6g
  • Protein: 5g

Keywords: DAIRY-FREE, LUNCH/DINNER RECIPES, RECIPES, SIDE DISHES, VEGETARIAN RECIPES

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Healthy Black Bean Brown Rice Salad Recipe

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Filed Under: Dairy-Free, Lunch/Dinner Recipes, Recipes, Side Dishes, Vegetarian Recipes Tagged With: black bean salad, black beans, brown rice, brown rice salad, side dish, side dishes

About Julie

My name is Julie and I am a full-time blogger, new mama, fitness enthusiast (certified personal trainer and group exercise instructor) and food fanatic (mostly healthy... but also not-so-healthy) living in North Carolina with my husband, dog and baby boy. Thank you for visiting Peanut Butter Fingers! I hope you enjoy little glimpses into my life and have fun trying the sweaty workouts I frequently share and making some of my favorite recipes along the way!

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Comments

  1. Patricia @Sweet And Strong says

    May 18, 2017 at 7:07 am

    A mid week cookout with neighbors sounds so fun! And this salad is a delicious combo. I have been meaning to get to Aldi because I’ve heard so many people raving about their organic section. It’s just that my local grocery store is 5 minutes away and Aldi is about 30, so I just need to plan it all out.

    Reply
    • Julie says

      May 18, 2017 at 7:18 am

      Our ALDI is 15 minutes or so away but it’s super close to our church so we usually go on Sundays or I pop in when I’m up in the area for various reasons. I really do think it’s worth the trip for the savings!

      Reply
    • Laura ~ Raise Your Garden says

      May 18, 2017 at 1:12 pm

      Yup!!! Get to ALDI’s. It was my sisterwho recommended their organic beef but now I get my bacon there too. Their organic section is pretty darn awesome!!! And they carry other things that I’ve wanted, like this bee house and muslin swaddles similar to Aiden and Anais brand.

      Reply
  2. Emily @ Pizza & Pull-ups says

    May 18, 2017 at 7:28 am

    Yummy, this looks delicious!

    Reply
  3. Amy says

    May 18, 2017 at 7:35 am

    So colorful and would be great for meal prep

    Amy | http://www.bucketloadofjoy.com

    Reply
    • Julie says

      May 18, 2017 at 7:44 am

      Definitely! It’s easy to prep ahead for sure — I’d just save the avocados for the last minute. Hope you love it if you decide to give it a try!! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Christina @ montessoriishmom.com says

    May 18, 2017 at 7:37 am

    That sounds so fun! I wish we had an Aldi, I love trying different grocery stores.

    Reply
  5. Annie says

    May 18, 2017 at 7:38 am

    This combo sounds amazing! I’ve never been to an Aldi but found one not too far away. Can’t wait to check it out!

    Reply
  6. Heather @ Polyglot Jot says

    May 18, 2017 at 8:10 am

    Yum! I love this combo together! I wish their was an Aldi near me–I dont think I’ve ever heard a bad thing about it!

    Reply
  7. Juliette | Namastay Traveling says

    May 18, 2017 at 8:29 am

    This looks so delicious! And will please the variety of taste buds in my house. I’m keeping my fingers crossed they’ll put an Aldi’s near me soon..but for now I’ll recreate with my Trader Joe’s finds!

    Reply
  8. Darby says

    May 18, 2017 at 8:46 am

    Oh my gosh just when I thought I couldn’t love you more, I do!!! My boyfriend and I are huge Survivor fans. His brothers and father also LOVE the show. I so wish we could’ve come to the cookout with y’all!!! I’m looking forward to trying out Aldi. There is a couple in Baltimore, but we usually shop at Harris Teeter and wow their organic foods are really expensive! Looking forward to checking out Aldi this weekend and seeing what discounts they offer xo

    Reply
    • Julie says

      May 18, 2017 at 11:12 am

      Haha!! I cannot believe next week is the FINALE! Who do you think has the best chance of winning!?

      Reply
      • Darby says

        May 18, 2017 at 11:20 am

        I have no idea honestly!! Who do you want to win? I love Tai! lol

        Reply
  9. Melissa says

    May 18, 2017 at 8:54 am

    This looks like such a refreshing and healthy meal and I love the seasonal ingredients!

    Reply
  10. Morgan Campbell says

    May 18, 2017 at 9:43 am

    This looks delicious and I just realized there is an Aldi right across from my gym!

    My fiance HATES tomatoes 🙁 do you have any recommendations on what a good substitute would be for those?

    Reply
    • Julie says

      May 18, 2017 at 11:11 am

      I’d just leave them out! I don’t think you’ll miss them!

      Reply
  11. Morgan Campbell says

    May 18, 2017 at 9:45 am

    And random fact I had combined birthday party with my neighbor when I turned 10 and she turned 11. Well, it was survivor themed! Her 5th grade friends vs. my 4th grade friends! It was seriously one of the best birthday parties I had as a kid!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      May 18, 2017 at 11:12 am

      That sounds like a blast!!

      Reply
  12. Audrey says

    May 18, 2017 at 10:01 am

    That salad looks amazing! Perfect and light for summer. Thanks for sharing!

    https://jonandaudadventure.wordpress.com/

    Reply
  13. Jan says

    May 18, 2017 at 10:26 am

    I make a recipe similar to this, now will be adding brown rice, great idea! I made your cold quinoa salad the other night after a trip to Aldi, it’s delicious!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      May 18, 2017 at 11:10 am

      So glad you liked it!!! Thank you for letting me know! I have a feeling that one is going to be a summertime staple in our house.

      Reply
  14. Bethany says

    May 18, 2017 at 10:35 am

    YUM! I am all about anything with black beans and corn! You just can’t beat that flavor. I can’t wait to make this recipe and test it out on the hubby 🙂 Thanks for sharing, Julie!

    Reply
  15. Christine says

    May 18, 2017 at 2:12 pm

    How do you prep your sweet potatoes? They look fantastic! I am having friends over for burgers on Saturday and would love to have the potatoes to serve up with them! Thanks in advance!

    Reply
  16. Julie @ Running in a Skirt says

    May 18, 2017 at 2:53 pm

    How much fun! What a lovely party and I adore this recipe. ALDI really is the best!

    Reply
  17. June says

    May 18, 2017 at 6:40 pm

    How do you like their wines? We really like sparkling wines (noticed you had a bottle in your picture) but if they are too sweet or sugary, hangover city! I haven’t yet made it to our Aldi, but many of my friends go there.

    Reply
    • Julie says

      May 19, 2017 at 6:48 am

      I really do like them! Buuut I actually do like sugary wines so you may not like my recommendations (the Landshut Reisling is prob my fav). If you enjoy red wine, I definitely recommend trying their Outlander red blend. It’s delicious and not nearly as sweet!

      Reply
  18. Julia Pace says

    May 18, 2017 at 6:43 pm

    Looks really good. how do you print the recipe?

    Reply
  19. Bethany says

    May 18, 2017 at 6:59 pm

    Great dish for the summer!

    Reply
  20. Maureen says

    May 18, 2017 at 8:14 pm

    Thanks for sharing! I made this with dinner tonight and we loved it. I do almost all my shopping at Aldi so I’m happy for new recipes!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      May 19, 2017 at 6:45 am

      I’m SO glad you liked the recipe! Thank you for taking the time to make it and let me know! 🙂

      Reply
  21. Rachel @ Health My Lifestyle says

    May 18, 2017 at 9:20 pm

    YAS–plant foods! haha. Love that you’re sharing something vegan 🙂 This is basically what I order at Chipotle–brown rice, beans, pico, corn salsa, and guac. I’ll have to try making this at home when I’m craving Chipotle!

    Reply
  22. Kim from MN says

    May 18, 2017 at 9:34 pm

    Even though I don’t like mustard, I love how it looks zig zagged on top of things in a photograph! (Old skule flashback: there was a pic of Jenny McCarthy on the cover of Rolling Stone yearsssss ago, and I loved the way the streak of mustard looked in the photo!) Makes your burger look so artsy!

    I love the looks of this bbq and the looks of that brown rice salad! Was just talking to one of my brothers yesterday about incorporating more grains into his diet (he brought it up, and we were both trying to remember the names of all the alternatives to brown rice. So thanks for the list! It’s like you read my mind days ago! Btw, amaranth is also a good choice! <—Giada tip.)

    So excited to hear about organic beef at Aldi's! I'll admit that even though I've been going there for years, I have never bought meat there, so I haven't even LOOKED at the cases to even be aware of the fact that they carry organic beef now! Look – you made a consumer aware (me!) Aldi did a good thing bringing you on board! And you did ME a good thing by letting me know. Thanks!

    Great post, as always! (I used to watch both Survivor and the Amazing race, but fell off the wagon for both. Or is it on the wagon? You know what I mean. Anyhow, just got back into the Amazing Race again after years of a hiatus, so I recommend that to you guys too! It's got travel, competition, AND exercise – I think you might like it!)

    Reply
    • Julie says

      May 19, 2017 at 6:50 am

      I have a feeling we’d like Amazing Race a lot but it’s a show we’ve never even tried to watch! I’ll put it back on my radar for the next season! 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful weekend, Kim!! <3

      Reply
  23. Allison says

    May 18, 2017 at 9:39 pm

    This looks like a great go-to recipe for Memorial Day weekend – thanks!!

    Reply
  24. Christie Hawkes says

    May 18, 2017 at 10:50 pm

    Julie, this salad looks divine! Thanks for sharing it. And I just had to tell you that my husband and I love Survivor! We haven’t missed an episode since the very first season. It’s my guilty pleasure.

    Cheers!
    Christie

    Reply
  25. Jessica says

    May 19, 2017 at 9:01 am

    I want to try this salad this weekend! Looks delish. Where did you purchase your white plate, etc…?

    Reply
    • Julie says

      May 19, 2017 at 1:53 pm

      The white plate with all of the food on it from the BBQ? I ordered it in a large set from RueLaLa years ago. I just checked for the brand and unfortunately the plate isn’t labeled on the bottom. 🙁

      Reply
  26. Sarah says

    May 20, 2017 at 9:26 am

    I just went to Aldi for the first time last week- and I LOVED it! I have to be honest, I was skeptical, but I picked up organic peanut butter, almonds, brown rice, some produce and frozen produce and was so happy with the quality and the prices! I will defiantly be going back 🙂

    Reply
  27. Ashley @ Whiskers and Weights says

    May 23, 2017 at 10:23 am

    I love Aldi! I always forget about them when going grocery shopping since I have a closer store to me. I am always excited though to wander around the store to find some goodies. Now if I could only remember to bring my bags in with me… 🙂

    Reply
  28. Angie says

    May 23, 2017 at 10:41 am

    Loving this recipe! I haven’t tried it yet, but being a fellow food blogger, and foodie at heart, I KNOW it will be good. I just shared it with a whole foods group that I moderate on Facebook and I know everyone will just love it. Your pictures are amazing so of course I had to pin them. 🙂

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Productive Sunday says:
    June 26, 2017 at 8:02 am

    […] I decided to make her brown rice and black bean salad, you may find her original post about it here. It was very simple and included a lot of ingredients that I have on hand. I only needed to pick up […]

    Reply
  2. My Favorite Bloggers - Lauren Graves & Company says:
    March 21, 2018 at 10:19 pm

    […] She even has a dairy-free filter! I’ve made a few of her recipes: Morning Glory Muffins, Black Bean and Brown Rice Salad, and Chicken Sausage and Spinach […]

    Reply
  3. Genius tips on eating healthy on a budget - The Curious Frugal says:
    January 13, 2019 at 5:34 pm

    […] Black Bean and Brown Rice Salad […]

    Reply

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Hi! I’m Julie and I am a mom to three energetic boys and a personal trainer and blogger living in Charlotte, North Carolina. Welcome to my blog! Peanut Butter Fingers follows my life and my interests in food, fitness, family, travel and (mostly) healthy living.
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