Spicy Southern California Black Bean Spaghetti Salad {Vegan, Gluten-Free}

by Dorothy Reinhold on May 23, 2017


Print This Post Print This Post Spicy Southern California Black Bean Spaghetti Salad: Pasta made from black beans and topped with all sorts of fresh chopped vegetables makes this a light summer vegan dinner choice. Two kinds of mild dried chiles are the foundation for the spicy sauce that brings out all the flavors.

We relish our fresh vegetables in Southern California, and are truly spoiled by the bounty available in our grocery stores.

Bell peppers, zucchini, spinach, cucumbers, and avocados…always California avocados! They’re everywhere, and we use them to full advantage. Every meal is better when strewn with fresh vegetables!

We also like to watch our waistlines, and so the bean pastas on the market now are an easy swap for traditional white noodles, with all plant-based protein and lots of fiber. They’re gluten-free and non-GMO, too.

They allow us the fun of our summer pasta salads without the extra calories.

This Spicy Southern California Black Bean Spaghetti Salad uses black bean pasta, which resembles regular pasta but has 25 grams of protein and 12 grams of fiber in each serving, so it will fill you up but not bloat you.

Vegan Spicy Southern California Black Bean Spaghetti SaladI don’t know about you, but my bathing suit appreciates it.

Spicy Southern California Black Bean Spaghetti Salad

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Yield: Serves 4

Spicy Southern California Black Bean Spaghetti Salad

Spicy Southern California Black Bean Spaghetti Salad: Pasta made from black beans and topped with all sorts of fresh chopped vegetables makes this a light summer vegan dinner choice. Two kinds of mild dried chiles are the foundation for the spicy sauce that brings out all the flavors.

Ingredients

  • 1 (8-ounce) box Explore Cuisine Black Bean Spaghetti
  • 2 zucchini, spiralized into "noodles"
  • 1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and finely chopped
  • 1 cucumber, skin peeled and finely chopped
  • 1 avocado, mashed with a squeeze of fresh organic lemon juice
  • 1 cup corn kernels (canned in water works fine, just rinse and drain)
  • 8 handfuls Baby Spinach
  • 4 tablespoons vegan cheese (whatever kind you prefer)
  • .
  • Adobo Chipotle Sauce
  • 16 dried ancho chiles, seeded and deveined
  • 16 dried guajillo chiles, seeded and deveined
  • 3 tablespoons peeled and finely minced fresh ginger
  • 3 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • .
  • Garnish: Pumpkin seeds + dill for garnish

Directions

  1. First, start the dried ancho and guajillo chiles softening by putting them in a big bowl and covering them with hottest tap water for about 25-30 minutes. Set bowl aside. Put a big pot of water on the stove and heat it to boiling for the spaghetti.
  2. Prep the vegetables: While waiting for the water to boil, spiralize the zucchini, chop the red pepper and the cucumber, and set them all aside. In a small bowl, mash the avocado with a squeeze of lemon juice so it doesn’t get brown, and set aside. Drain, rinse and drain again the corn kernels (if they are canned; if you are using frozen kernels, simply thaw them), and set corn aside.
  3. Once pasta water is boiling vigorously, add the Explore Cuisine Black Bean Spaghetti and let cook for 6 minutes. Once pasta is done, remove from heat, drain into a colander, rinse under cool water and set aside.
  4. Make the Spicy Adobo Chipotle Sauce: Remove soaked chiles from soaking water (discard water), remove stems if any of them have stems on, place the soaked chiles in a blender along with the ginger, cumin, salt and pepper. Blend until very smooth. Stop the motor a few times to scrape down the sides with a spatula and give things a stir, just to make sure everything’s getting puréed. Don’t be tempted to add liquid—you want the final sauce to be thick. Scrape the purée into a small bowl if you plan to use it soon, or into a jar with a tight fitting lid if you want to save it for later. It’ll keep in the fridge for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for 3 months.
  5. Next, add spicy adobo chipotle sauce to your cookie noodles and zucchini noodles, tossing to coat. Add just enough to coat them; you may have some left over. (Give it a taste to make sure you can take the heat level. Both ancho and guajillo are considered mild peppers, but each person’s tolerance is different.)
  6. Build the bowl: Add 2 handfuls of baby spinach to each of 4 wide, shallow bowls. Add some noodles, then sprinkle on cucumber, red bell pepper, corn, vegan cheese and a plop of guacamole in the center of the bowl. Garnish with a sprinkle of pumpkin seeds and freshly chopped dill.
  7. Serves 4.

Notes

Recipe source: Adapted slightly from Lee Tilghman of Lee from America, for Explore Cuisine. Photos by Lee Tilghman.

https://www.shockinglydelicious.com/spicy-southern-california-black-bean-spaghetti-salad/

Of course, if you don’t care for one of these ingredients, feel free to sub in something you do like! I can envision diced fresh tomatoes, diced jicama, or some black beans strewn in there for added protein. If you don’t like dill, sub chopped fresh cilantro!

areyoupinningIf you like this recipe and want to save it, pin the image below to your Pinterest board.

Spicy Southern California Black Bean Spaghetti Salad on ShockinglyDelicious.com

 

 

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{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }

Patricia @ Grab a Plate July 7, 2017 at 9:41 pm

This is such a pretty dish! I can see it served for a special occasion, or simply during the week. Loving all those veggies!

Reply

Erin @ The Speckled Palate June 13, 2017 at 7:08 pm

Oh my GOODNESS. I desperately want this for lunch!

Reply

Krista May 25, 2017 at 8:46 pm

I am always looking for new spicy recipes! This one sounds amazing!

Reply

Cathy Trochelman May 25, 2017 at 8:08 pm

I’d love this salad for lunch!

Reply

Amanda | The Chunky Chef May 25, 2017 at 5:53 pm

How did I not know there is black bean spaghetti? So wonderful!

Reply

Delaney | Melanie Makes May 25, 2017 at 2:52 pm

This salad is so colorful!

Reply

Katerina @ diethood .com May 25, 2017 at 8:08 am

I love everything about this salad!! Its fantastic!!

Reply

peter @Feed Your Soul Too May 25, 2017 at 6:43 am

Dorothy, this is a great summer recipe. It is light but full of flavor. The spicy kicks up the metabolism as well.

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold May 25, 2017 at 9:47 am

Peter,
I hadn’t thought of that, but you’re right!

Reply

cakespy May 25, 2017 at 4:02 am

Black. Bean. Pasta. My mind is kind of blown here.

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold May 25, 2017 at 5:32 am

Cakespy,
As it should be! It’s a really smart idea, super nutritious, fast to cook, and tasty, too!

Reply

Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry May 25, 2017 at 1:33 am

Looks so beautiful and colourful and packed full of nutrients

Reply

Amy @ Little Dairy on the Prairie May 24, 2017 at 9:47 pm

I am thinking this will be lunch very soon!

Reply

Dee May 24, 2017 at 3:59 pm

This is definitely my kind of salad, and that slaw sounds perfect!

Reply

Tiffany May 24, 2017 at 3:16 pm

I’ve never even HEARD of black bean spaghetti before! This recipe looks delicious and full of flavor!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold May 24, 2017 at 10:59 pm

Tiffany,
It’s a THING! You must try it!

Reply

aish das-padihari May 24, 2017 at 2:28 pm

The spaghetti salad looks amazing. The combination of avocado and corn is killing me.

Reply

Lynn May 24, 2017 at 9:56 am

Oooh, I’ve never had black bean pasta! Cant’ wait to try this!

Reply

Jen May 24, 2017 at 9:55 am

Looks amazing and even better that everyone could customize it to whatever they like best! Helps encourage my kids to eat it all.

Reply

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