Garlic Powder (I mean, Black Bean Fajita Salad & Spicy Rutabaga Fries) : Food Fight Friday

It’s Food Fight Friday already? That was so fast! Hi friends, life is just speeding along ever so quickly at the pura-days house but I wouldn’t miss a triple F if I could help it.

I think last week I played the “let’s wing it” game and I must admit, this week will be similar. Between going through the last of our (my) things, deciding what’s going into my one suitcase, and making sure I have all of my flight/reservation dates and times in order, documenting my meals has gotten scarce. Good thing this is a @foodfightfriday crew where all we need to do to participate is talk about food, eat food, snap pictures of food, or whatever else you can think of to do with food.

Welcome back amigos y amigas, if you haven’t joined in the contest then I suggest you tighten your knickers and get a move on it 😉. The prize is double again this week- I think 🤔.

Because this salad photographed so well (in my humble opinion) I’ve decided to feature it on this beautiful day to have a food fight:

Black Bean Fajita Salad & Spicy Rutabaga Fries

No photoshop or filter enhancements necessary for this cover shot. I mean, just look at those colors- talk about eating the rainbow (nudge, nudge).

Ingredients

1 lrg Bell - Red (sliced into strips)
1 lrg Bell - Yellow (strips)
1 lrg Bell - Green (strips)
1 sm Onion - Red (sliced)
1-2 bushes of baby lettuce - Purple (chopped/washed)
Handful of cherry tomatoes (cut in half)
1/2 LB Black beans - soaked over night (8 hrs)
1 lrg rutabaga - sliced into fries
1/2 avocado (for guac)
Slice of red onion (for guac)
1/2 jalapeño (for guac)
Garlic powder
Pink Himalayan salt
Cumin
Black pepper
Chili powder

The spices have no measurements because they are to taste.

Cilantro Vinaigrette

1 bunch cilantro
3 limes (juiced)
1-2 garlic cloves
1/4 Cup olive oil
4 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
Pink Himalayan salt

I set my oven to 425 F. And let that baby warm up. I like to shake my rutabaga fries in a big Tupperware bowl with chili powder, salt, garlic powder, cumin, and pepper before sticking them in the oven.

Once in the oven, set your timer for 25 minutes.

Start slicing up your rainbow. I couldn’t resist taking a picture of these gorgeous colors. If you’re eating potatoes you can add some of that here too. I actually meant to cut up some yellow squash but got too enamored with my bells and it slipped my mind. (🤫… I think I’m getting old).

Take your already SOAKED OVERNIGHT black beans and bring them to a boil then reduce to a simmer for 1-2 hrs. I actually started this process an hour before I puts the rutabaga fries in the oven. If you’re strapped for time then bust out your good ole can of black beans. It’ll do the trick in a pinch.

I simmered my beans with garlic powder (are you starting to see a pattern here), sea salt, and more garlic powder. Stir them every once in awhile to prevent the bottom from burning.

To make the dressing, simply put everything into a blender and blend until smooth. I add seasoning as needed here. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Cut and wash your multi colored baby lettuce. Look how pretty your lettuce bowl looks. The prettier the yummier (what? People say that).

In a large pan heat some oil over medium high heat and sauté your bells and onions. Season with cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, pink salt and pepper.

Assemble a single serving guacamole (because your husband is allergic to avocado and you need no more help working on your avocado body: it’s a gloriously wintery body with avocado as the primary responsible party 🤷🏼‍♀️). Using 1/2 an avo, 1/2 a jalapeño, 1/2 a lime, 1 chopped slice of red onion, pink salt, cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder, mix up your elixir 😉.

Pull out your fries and build your fajita yumminess! By the way, if you always make beans from scratch then bra- frikken- vo. They are delicious 😋

And there you have it, another great after holiday meal, another food fight down in the books, and in my case, lunch tomorrow. Yay 👏👏

Thank you for checking me out today and hangin a bit. Let me see what you cooked up for the ring… see y’all later.

Pura Vida ✌️