Vegetarian potluck

Last week, my yoga studio celebrated the last day of its most recent 30 day challenge (where participants practice yoga every day for 30 days).  I didn't participate in the challenge this time around, because a) I was out of town for a bit (update soon), b) I was in bootcamp plus running training, and couldn't really see myself being able to fit in a yoga practice every day, and c) midterms and assignments were bogging me down, and having the extra pressure of having to show up to a yoga class every day would have pushed me over the edge.  Ironic, yes, that going to yoga would be stressful :(
However, being a teacher and still practicing at the studio, I still wanted to be there to congratulate everyone who made it through (and even those who didn't :P).  I've done the 30 day challenge several times before (here's a reminder from 2 years ago, just before teacher training started - but there have been at least 2 challenges since then that I did!), so I completely recognize how hard it is to make that kind of commitment, and I commend anyone who puts their name on the list, let alone actually makes it through the whole 30 days!  This time around was the studio's biggest challenge ever.  Over one hundred students signed up (WHOA!)

To celebrate the end of a 30 day challenge, the studio always holds a vegetarian potluck party (last time I posted, I made a roasted pepper, lentil and feta salad for the party).  This time around....

Black Bean, Chickpea and Mango Salad with Chili-Lime Dressing

Measurements are approximate.  I made chili earlier this week and pretty much threw in whatever was left over from that :)

Salad:

• appx 1/2 can black beans, rinsed well
• appx 1/2 can chickpeas, rinsed well
• appx 1/2 can corn kernals (or use fresh if available, about a 1/2 cup)
• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 red pepper, diced
• 1/2 yellow or green pepper, diced
• 2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
• 1/2 mango (or more if you really love mango), julienned (cut into matchsticks)
• 1-2T cilantro

Dressing:

• 1/4 cup veggie oil (I only had olive oil in the house, but it still tasted fine)
• 1 1/2 tsp chili powder, or more if you like it spicy
• 2tsp lime zest (about the amount from 1 lime)
• juice of 1 lime (about 3T)
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt

Mix all salad ingredients together in a large bowl.  Mix dressing ingredients together in a separate bowl.  Taste the dressing to ensure that it is spicy enough for your liking, adding more spice if desired.  I left mine less spicy than I like because it was going to be served to people who may or may not like spicy food.  Normally though, this would have a whole lot more chili powder and/or crushed red pepper flakes and/or hot sauce!
Combine dressing and salad, mix well.  Taste the salad, adding salt and pepper to taste.

Yum!

What do you like to make for a potluck?