Pairing beans with a variety of vegetables in a salad is a healthy protein rich vegetarian option. This pea and bean salad is perfect for healthy work or school lunches, potlucks, or easy-breezy dinners.
Green peas are a very good source of vitamin K, manganese, dietary fiber, vitamin C, phosphorus, and folate and protein. The fiber in black beans helps lower the total amount of cholesterol in the blood and decrease the risk of heart disease. Read more in the Notes below.
February is almost coming to an end, and my resolutions for new year have not been started yet 😀 . Like most of us, I also make a weight loss resolution every year, and this year also I have decided to loose some pounds which have been lately added after my second kid was born.
Salads are a great way to add to your meals, if you don’t want to remain hungry while you are aiming to loose weight.I have met so many people in my life, who can stay without eating for many hours, but I cannot!!! I cannot resist hunger and with a 2 year old making me running on my toes, I need energy to run after him. I find these kind of protein rich salads an excellent way to keep me full for hours , without even worrying about gaining fat.
So, here comes the recipe for this healthy,colorful and delicious salad.
- 1 cup Black Beans
- 1 cup Green Peas Frozen or Fresh
- 1/2 Ripe Avacado
- 2 medium diced Carrots
- 1 English cucumber diced
- 1 stick Celery
- 1/2 Chopped Red Bell pepper
- 1/2 Chopped Yellow Bell pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped Cilantro leaves
- 1 tsp Roasted Flaxseed Powder
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- To taste Salt
- To taste pepper
- 1 tsp lime juice
- Wash and soak the Black beans overnight and then drain them. Place them in a pressure cooker and add 3 cps of water ( approx). Add little salt and pressure cook them for about 2 whistles. They should not be over cooked. Once they are boiled , drain the water out and allow them to cool.
- Boil the green peas in a pot for about 3 minutes and then drain them. Keep them aside and allow them to cool.
- To prepare the dressing, Crush two big garlic cloves in a bowl with the help of a big knife. Add olive in that bowl and let the garlic marinate in olive oil for 15 minutes.
- Mean While, take a big bowl and add beans, peas, chopped celery, carrots, bell peppers, cucumber , and flax seed powder. Add diced Avocado, chopped Cilantro leaves and mix well.
- Strain and pour the olive oil into the salad and then add lime juice to it. Give everything toss so that they mix well. Your Green pea and bean salad is ready to serve .
- Health benefits of Black Beans : Recent research has shown that black beans provide special support for digestive tract health, and particularly our colon. The indigestible fraction (IF) in black beans has recently been shown to be larger than the IF in either lentils or chickpeas Read more here
- Health Benefits of Green Peas : Peas are relatively low in calories and fat, and high in protein and fiber, making them a good choice for any weight-control plan. Peas also rank low on the glycemic index scale, with a glycemic index of 22. (The glycemic index is a ranking of how carbohydrate foods affect blood sugar.)Although,peas contain carbohydrate, but they can still be part of a diabetes eating plan.