VeganMoFo: "W" is for Warm Black Bean Edamame Salsa

The "V" Word continues its celebration of VeganMoFo, the month of Vegan food, with the other 25 letters of the alphabet. "W" is for Warm Black Bean Edamame Salsa.

Here is the reason I could probably never go raw. I like my food hot. Really hot. Not spicy hot, though I like that too, but temperature hot. Whenever I eat at a restaurant, I hate when the food is served at room temperature. When I eat at home, I often get up to warm up my food because it cools down half-way through.

Since doing this blog, I always have to reheat my food. By the time I take all the pictures of a recipe, my food is cold! I've also developed a bit of "asbestos fingers" and "asbestos tongue," touching and tasting burning hot food without flinching!

Even a food that is usually served cold, I prefer hot. Like this salsa. The sauteed onions, garlic and bell peppers add a rich flavor that enhances the taste of the beans, corn and tomatoes. The spices develop better when they are heated. Certainly, you could eat this salsa at room temperature but I like mine warm.

This is a wonderful side dish to your favorite Mexican meal. I served mine on the side of my Quick Quesadillas. Warm or cold, my Warm Black Bean Edamame Salsa is a great choice!

Warm Black Bean Edamame Salsa

Ingredients

1 Tbs. olive oil
1 red onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 cup shelled Edamame
1 cup corn kernels
1-15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
2 plum tomatoes, diced
1 Tbs. fresh cilantro, chopped

Directions

Heat the oil in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and bell pepper and cook another 2 minutes. Add the Edamame, corn and black beans to the pan. Mix the spices into the salsa and let cook until the beans and corn are heated through.

When the salsa is heated through, turn off the heat. Mix in the tomatoes and cilantro. Serve alongside your meal. Enjoy!

"W" is for Warm Black Bean Edamame Salsa. For another "W" word, read my essay Weight Watchers: You Had Me at 'Step On.'
 
The "V" Word: Say it. Eat it. Live it.