Black Bean, Corn and Red Pepper Salsa

Black beans, corn, red bell pepper, red onion and cilantro tossed with a dressing prepared from rice vinegar, oil, jalapeno, garlic, chili powder, cumin and hot pepper sauce.

Ingredients -

1/4 cup Seasoned Rice Vinegar, original or roasted garlic
1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Jalapeno, seeded and minced
1 Garlic Clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon Chili Powder
1/2 teaspoon Cumin
1/4 teaspoon Hot Pepper Sauce
1 (16 ounces) can Black Beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup Frozen Corn, thawed
1 cup Red Bell Pepper, diced
1/4 cup Red Onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped Fresh Cilantro

Preparation:

1. Combine the rice vinegar, oil, jalapeno, garlic, chili powder, cumin and hot pepper sauce in large serving bowl.

2. Mix thoroughly.

3. Add the remaining ingredients and toss gently.

4. Serve as a side dish to grilled seafood, meats, chicken or hamburgers.

Variations and Recipe Ideas:

Appetizer Tips -

Rice Vinegar

Rice vinegar is made from fermented rice wines and available in most supermarkets. Seasoned or flavored rice wine vinegars are available at specialty supermarkets and Asian grocers. The vinegars from Japan are slightly milder than other countries.

Appetizer Tips -

Fresh Cilantro

Chopped fresh cilantro is widely used in Mexican, Tex-Mex and Southwestern cuisine. Cilantro can be found in salsas, guacamole, and rice dishes. The fresh leaves are often used as a garnish. Cilantro is a strong herb and can dominate other flavors.