High-Protein Crunchy Cabbage & Black Bean Salad is a juicy and tangy salad. This salad is prepared in 20 minutes, so we can easily prepare it for last-minute meal cravings or an event plan. It contains cabbage, black beans, radishes, red onion, cilantro, pepitas, avocado, orange juice, olive oil, honey, cumin, & garlic. You can utilize maple syrup instead of honey if you want to make it vegan. High-Protein Crunchy Cabbage & Black Bean Salad is perfect to store for some time, so we don’t have to worry about making it for meal prep. Serve this High-Protein Crunchy Cabbage & Black Bean Salad with grilled chicken, quinoa, brown rice, & roasted sweet potatoes.
STATS:
- Caloric Count: 390 Kcal
- Prep Duration: Twenty minutes
- Serving size: 1½ cups
- Cook time: Nil
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Total time: 20 minutes
- Course: Salad
- Diet: High-Protein
- Serving: 4
EQUIPMENT:
- Big mixing bowl
- Small bowl
- Cutting board
- Whisk
- Knife
INGREDIENTS:
- 6 tbsp. orange juice
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tsp. honey
- ¾ tsp. ground cumin
- ¾ tsp. salt
- 1 medium clove garlic
- 6 cups green cabbage
- 1 can black beans — no-salt-added
- 8 medium radishes
- â…“ cup red onion
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro
- ¼ cup roasted pepitas — unsalted
- 1 firm-ripe avocado
INGREDIENT NOTES:
ORANGE JUICE:
- Include the fresh orange juice to add a bright citrus flavor and a touch of natural sweetness to the dressing.
OLIVE OIL:
- Add the olive oil to create a smooth dressing and provide heart-healthy unsaturated fats.
HONEY:
- Add the honey to stabilize the tangy taste & acidity of orange juice and offers a mild sweet taste in dressing.
GROUND CUMIN:
- Sprinkle the cumin to offer a warm, earthy flavor that pairs especially well with black beans and cabbage.
GARLIC:
- Add the freshly grated garlic to provide a savory flavor and aromatic quality to the dressing.
GREEN CABBAGE:
- Thinly slice the cabbage so it is easy to eat while still maintaining its satisfying crunch.
BLACK BEANS:
- Add the black beans to offer vegan protein & fiber, it makes the salad filing & satisfying.
RADISHES:
- Add the radishes to provide a crisp texture and mildly peppery flavor.
RED ONION:
- Add the red onion to provide sharpness and a subtle sweetness that complements the citrus dressing.
CILANTRO:
- Include the fresh cilantro to provide a bright herbal flavor.
PEPITAS:
- Add the roasted pepitas to provide crunch, protein, minerals, and healthy fats.
AVOCADO:
- Add the avocado near the end to provide a creamy texture and additional healthy fats.
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Include the garlic, orange juice, honey, olive oil, salt, & cumin in the small vessel and mix with the whisk to combine them.
- Then include the red onions, cabbage, radish, cilantro, & black beans in the big mixing vessel.
- Add the dressing to the beans and vegetables and mix them softly to coat all the items.
- Then add the roasted pepitas and avocado and mix softly, & serve.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS:
PROTEIN:
- Blackened Salmon
- Garlic Tofu
- Turkey Skewers
GRAIN:
- Brown Rice
- Corn Couscous
- Mexican Rice
MEXICAN PAIRINGS:
- Bean Tostadas
- Fajita Bowls
- Chicken Enchiladas
SIDES:
- Mango Salsa
- Fresh Corn Salad
- Watermelon Salad
TOPPINGS:
- Tortilla Strips
- Pickled Jalapeños
- Crumbled Cotija
TIPS:
- Make the thin cabbage slices to provide good texture and crunchiness.
- Wash the black beans and strain them properly, then add them to the salad.
- Include the avocados when you are ready to serve the salad so it doesn’t get mushy.
STORAGE INFORMATION:
FRIDGE:
- Add the salad to the tight box and store for 2 days. You can put the pepitas and avocados in a separate vessel to maintain good texture.
FREEZER:
- It is not good to freeze the salad; the texture of the salad will be ruined.
FAQs:
Will I prepare the salad before the requirement?
- Yes, we would easily prepare all the items before the requirement and store them in the fridge. We just have to add the papitas & avocados when it is ready to serve.
How to offer more protein in this salad?
- We can include tofu, chicken, additional black beans, pepitas, and edamame to add more protein to the salad.
Will I prepare this salad with the red cabbage?
- Yes, we could easily prepare this salad with the red cabbage; it will provide the nice red color.
How to make this salad vegan?
- We would include maple syrup or any other variety of vegan sweeteners to prepare the salad vegan.
Will I utilize the can of orange juice to make the salad?
- Yes, we would easily add the canned orange juice, though it is best to use fresh juice for the strong taste.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:
Calories: 390 kcal
Net carbs: 32 g
Iron: 3.8 mg
Total carbs: 40 g
Vitamin A: 145 µg
Fiber: 8 g
Serving size: 1½ cups
Calcium: 95 mg
Protein: 11 g
Total fat: 25 g
Saturated fat: 3.5 g
Sodium: 510 mg
Potassium: 690 mg
Serving: 4 servings
