Salads

Black Bean-mango Salad, Mango Mojito, and Miracle Creek

August 31, 2025
editor
The pairing of Angie Kim's "Miracle Creek" with the Black Bean-Mango Salad and the Mango Mojito is a delightful trifecta of intrigue, flavor, and refreshment. "Miracle Creek" is a gripping legal thriller that resonates well with the salad's vibrant and unconventional mix of ingredients, highlighting mystery in both taste and narrative. The Mango Mojito, with its tropical notes, complements the mango in the salad, providing a cooling and lively drink that mirrors the unfolding intensity of the novel. Together, this trio promises an engaging sensory experience that stimulates the mind and palate.
Black Bean-mango Salad

Ingredients

  • 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 large mango, peeled and diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional, for heat)
  • Juice of 2 limes
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon honey or agave nectar
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
  • Combine the Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the black beans, diced mango, red bell pepper, red onion, avocado, cilantro, and jalapeño (if using).
  • Toss with Dressing: Pour the lime dressing over the salad and gently toss to combine, ensuring all the ingredients are evenly coated.
  • Serve: Serve the Black Bean-Mango Salad immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours to let the flavors meld. Enjoy as a side dish, a light meal, or a topping for tacos or grilled meats.

Miracle Creek

Miracle Creek

A gripping and provocative debut thriller about a young mother accused of killing her autistic son. Set in the world of a small Korean immigrant community in Virginia, "Miracle Creek" is a page-turner featuring a murder trial, family secrets, and the harrowing journey for justice.
Winner of the Edgar Award for Best First Novel A Time Best Mystery and Thriller Book of All Time The “gripping… page-turner” (Time) hitting all the best of summer reading lists, Miracle Creek is perfect for book clubs and fans of Liane Moriarty and Celeste Ng How far will you go to protect your family? Will you keep their secrets? Ignore their lies? In a small town in Virginia, a group of people know each other because they’re part of a special treatment center, a hyperbaric chamber that may cure a range of conditions from infertility to autism. But then the chamber explodes, two people die, and it’s clear the explosion wasn’t an accident. A powerful showdown unfolds as the story moves across characters who are all maybe keeping secrets, hiding betrayals. Chapter by chapter, we shift alliances and gather evidence: Was it the careless mother of a patient? Was it the owners, hoping to cash in on a big insurance payment and send their daughter to college? Could it have been a protester, trying to prove the treatment isn’t safe? “A stunning debut about parents, children and the unwavering hope of a better life, even when all hope seems lost" (Washington Post), Miracle Creek uncovers the worst prejudice and best intentions, tense rivalries and the challenges of parenting a child with special needs. It’s “a quick-paced murder mystery that plumbs the power and perils of community” (O Magazine) as it carefully pieces together the tense atmosphere of a courtroom drama and the complexities of life as an immigrant family. Drawing on the author’s own experiences as a Korean-American, former trial lawyer, and mother of a “miracle submarine” patient, this is a novel steeped in suspense and igniting discussion. Recommended by Erin Morgenstern, Jean Kwok, Jennifer Weiner, Scott Turow, Laura Lippman, and more–Miracle Creek is a brave, moving debut from an unforgettable new voice.

Discussion Questions

  • How does Angie Kim use the trial setting to explore the characters' secrets?
  • In what ways does the immigrant experience impact the relationships and events in the novel?
  • Which character's perspective did you find most compelling, and why?
  • How does "Miracle Creek" address the themes of parenting a special needs child?
  • Discuss the role of community and isolation within the story. How do they affect the characters’ decisions?
  • What does "Miracle Creek" suggest about truth and lies in our justice system?
  • How does the author build suspense throughout the narrative?
  • In what ways are the physical injuries in the novel symbolic of the emotional scars the characters bear?
  • Discuss how cultural identity influences the conflicts in the book.
  • What ethical conflicts arise in "Miracle Creek", and how do they propel the storyline?
Authors: Angie Kim
ISBN: 9780374156022
Publisher: Sarah Crichton Books
Published Date: 2019-04-16

Mango Mojito

Mango Mojito
A refreshing and tropical twist on the classic cocktail, this Mango Mojito is perfect for pairing with the fruity and vibrant Black Bean-Mango Salad. Featuring fresh mango puree, mint leaves, lime, and a splash of sparkling water, this cocktail is a perfect summer refreshment.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 ripe mango, diced
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/2 lime, cut into wedges
  • 8 fresh mint leaves
  • 2 ounces light rum
  • Sparkling water
  • Ice cubes

Instructions

  • In a glass, muddle the mango with sugar and lime wedges until the mango is mashed and the juice from the limes is released.
  • Add the mint leaves and gently muddle to release the oils.
  • Fill the glass with ice cubes and pour in the rum.
  • Top with sparkling water and stir gently to combine.