Healthy Plant-Based Lunch: Kidney Bean Arugula Salad Recipe

When you're in the mood for a healthy lunch and want to switch up your go-to salad recipe for something more creative and delicious, try this kidney bean arugula salad that features a citrus dressing. If you have a garden in your backyard, use homegrown tomatoes for this salad and if possible, try to buy your ingredients locally for a fresh taste.

Kidney beans are a good source of vegan protein. One cup of the beans has 43 grams of plant-based protein so you will be full and satisfied after eating this salad for lunch. Arugula has a peppery, bitter taste that goes perfectly with these ingredients.

Avocados are a superfood fruit that promotes weight loss by making you feel fuller longer. Nutritionists recommend eating avocados at lunchtime so you stay full until dinner and avoid snacking throughout the day.

Recipe Developer: Lauren, @flora_and_vino

Why we love it: Salads are one of my favorite lunches to enjoy, especially in the summer when the produce is fresh and ripe. This particular recipe is tasty and high in plant-based protein.

Make it for: Lunch or a side dish to serve with our dinner entree. You can't go wrong with eating a salad at any point in the day.

Why it's healthier: Tomatoes have been linked to lowering blood pressure, reducing stress and strengthening your bones. Tomatoes are also high in lycopene, which is protective against bladder, breast, cervical, colorectal, endometrial, lung, pancreatic, prostate and skin cancers. One tomato provides 40 percent of your daily requirement of vitamin C.

Healthy ingredients: Lycopene, vitamin K, potassium

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Kidney Bean Arugula Salad

Yields 2 servings 

Ingredients

• 1 15-oz. can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 cups organic arugula
• 10–12 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 TBSP pine nuts
• 1 medium avocado, diced
• 1 lemon, squeezed
• 2 tsp cold-pressed avocado oil (optional)
• Black pepper

Instructions

1. Add the arugula, kidney beans, cherry tomatoes, diced avocado, and pine nuts to a large mixing bowl and toss to combine.
2. Add squeezed lemon, a drizzle of optional avocado oil, and black pepper and toss again to combine.
3. Serve immediately! Store leftovers separately in the fridge for 2-3 days and combine before serving.

Nutrition information is a rough estimate.

Calories 561 Total Fat 26.9 g Sat. Fat 4.7 g Sodium 68 mg Total Carbs 68 g Fiber 32.3 g Sugars 20.3 g Protein 23.2 g