I don’t know about you, but I have been in a major lunch rut lately. When things get busy, I have a habit of falling into the ‘same lunch everyday’ trap and I eat the same thing until I am blue in the face and can’t take it any longer.
My rut as of late has consisted mainly of hummus and veggie wraps. For almost everyday for the past two months, I have had a wrap as part of my lunch because they are quick, mindless, and easy. They take 5 minutes to whip up and can be consumed in even less time!
But, it is time to change it up and spice up my lunches once again. A girl can only stay in a lunch rut for so long before she snaps. ;)
I seriously cannot fathom eating another wrap for a very long, long time.
Please tell me I am not the only one who wears out foods like this. :)
Today I have a delicious, healthy, and super quick black bean salad recipe that makes a wonderful lunch, either as the main course or as a side dish. If you are looking for a way to change up the everyday fare, this is it!
Easy Avocado-Lime Black Bean Salad
I fell in love with this black bean salad as soon as I tasted it. It is like no other black bean salad I have ever made before. The hint of lime and spicy kick from the cumin makes for an addicting and healthy salad full of protein, healthy fats, and flavour.
Adapted from The Kitchn.
Ingredients:
- Two 15-ounce can black beans
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
- 2 small shallots, diced
- 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4-1/2 tsp Kosher Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 large avocado, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
Directions: Drain the beans thoroughly and rinse. In a large bowl add the beans and toss with lime juice, cilantro leaves, diced shallot, and ground cumin. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Peel and slice an avocado, and serve the beans at room temperature, with chopped avocado on top or mixed throughout the salad. Note that I did not have any cilantro on hand, but it still tasted delicious! Makes 3-4 servings.
Notes from original recipe: The beans will last for several days in the fridge. You can easily take this salad for lunch and bring along an avocado to chop up just before serving.
The beauty of this lunch is that it is not only healthy, packed with protein and healthy fats, but it is whipped up in a jiffy, leaving you lots of time for life’s other daily tasks.
Lunch rut, be gone.
I think I threw together this lunch in 5 minutes flat. It also makes enough for a few servings so the leftovers can be enjoyed throughout the week.
I wasn’t sure how I would like the cumin + lime flavours together, but it was actually wonderful. I could not get enough of this dish!
I had the salad with a couple slices of Ezekiel bread and some fruit for dessert. It was so filing, well-rounded, and super energizing. If you are looking to break out of a rut, I highly recommend this delicious lunch. It is going to be on my regular rotation for easy & quick lunches. :)
Are you currently in a lunch rut? Do you enjoy mixing it up for lunch or do you rely on the same foods most of the time?
I definitely am guilty of wearing foods out, especially hummus :) That recipe looks so good (and easy too). I can’t wait to try it.
I haven’t been in a food rut as much as I have just been exhausted. I’ve been busting my booty in school so by the time a meal rolls around, I just want whatever is quickest and easiest to prepare.
totally. my lunch rut right now is soups. thick, rich n creamy ones! this week i have a coconut, ginger-carrot-parsnip soup. i totally need a better and more concise name for that haha. hey monotony doesn’t matter if it tastes great right? :)
I’m constantly in a lunch rut lol I often eat the same thing for days on end, then never want to see it again
I’ve been in a MAJAH lunch rut too!! This looks like the perfect antidote!
Looks fantastic! Black beans are one of my favourite things to have for lunch in some form or another – they keep me feeling full all afternoon!
I get in foods ruts often. It’s so easy to eat the same thing over and over! I’m most guitly of this for breakfast. I’ll eat oatmeal for months on end, and then one day, I can’t stomach the thought of another bowl. Then it’s on to months of yogurt and fruit, or your (AMAZING) baked breakfast puddings, or cereal and milk. Eventually, I find my back to the oatmeal and I can’t remember why I stopped eating in the first place!
Definitely stuck in a lunch rut! Most days I have a couscous and tofu sald with harissa. I’ve had that most days for lunch for weeks! It’s so quick though, and I usually make a ton and refrigerate it until I need. Must. End. Lunch. Rut.
That salad looks delicious by the way! :P
You are speaking to me Angela!
As I eat lunch right now, I could not take “the ususal” so I made a fast banana, pb butter, and agave quesadilla with persimmons on the side.:)
I love your lunch though. When in doubt-grab the canned beans!
This looks great! Also, I love the photos with the teal wall/backdrop. Your photos are really great lately.
I always get in lunch ruts- that’s just what happens when you have no time to plan/prepare meals! But this salad looks amazing, I think it is seriously speaking to my soul and telling me to make it.
I eat a Hugh Jass salad every day, but you’ve inspired me to mix up the contents!
Thinking of you.
Oh man, I am TERRIBLE for being in a lunch rut. I almost always eat a sandwich/piece of fruit/yogurt every day. I have gotten a lot better about switching things up lately, but it is a very easy lunch to grab on the go :).
I might be the queen of kitchen ruts. Once I find a good thing, I stick for it for far too long until- just like you- I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE! Recently I’ve started making a point to try one new recipe a week, be it lunch or dinner. I find it’s a good way to diversify my meals AND try some new ingredients :)
Beautiful photos!
I’ve been looking for a simple, tasty bean recipe, and I think i’ve just found it :)
What a great flavour combination!
Hi Angela,
I usually eat leftovers for lunch, so I haven’t been stuck in a lunch rut yet *knock on wood*.
I know you’re very busy, but my family’s going to Paris for Thanksgiving weekend for three days. I’ve read all your posts on Paris and was wondering if you have any recommendations or suggestions.
Thank you!
I am always in a lunch rut! I am also a wrap girl. But that black bean salad looks great, and I think I will give it a try next week. I am also a fan of making tons of food in my rice cooker so that dinner turns into lunch.
I am totally in a lunch rut right now. I teach school so it is hard to pack anything but a wrap and a salad that I can eat in a hurry!! I love reading your blog to get good ideas, I just need to make them now!
Yum! I know what I am having for dinner tonight. I made a black bean hummus the other day that was similar. Black beans, lime, cilantro and a little bit of salt and it was the best thing ever! Oh, and I am the queen of lunch ruts!