Description

A vibrant, smoky, and textured summer side dish featuring charred sweet corn, black beans, and avocado with a zesty lime dressing. It is naturally vegan, gluten-free, and perfect for potlucks.

Ingredients

Scale

4 ears sweet corn (about 1.5 cups kernels)
1 can (15oz / 240g) black beans, drained and rinsed
2 medium avocados, diced
1 small red onion, finely diced
1 cup cilantro, chopped
3–4 limes (about ½ cup juice / 120ml), freshly squeezed
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 small jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional)
Salt and black pepper to taste
Lime zest from 1 lime

Instructions

Dice the red onion, mince the garlic, and chop the cilantro. Place them in a large mixing bowl. Add minced jalapeño if using.
Char the corn: If grilling, grill whole ears over medium-high heat for 10-12 minutes until charred, then cut kernels off. If using a skillet, heat oil over medium-high, add kernels, and cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until browned, then stir and repeat for another 2-3 minutes.
Add the warm, charred corn to the bowl with the veggies. Add the drained black beans. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, lime juice, lime zest, minced garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
Gently fold in the diced avocado. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat everything evenly without mashing the avocado.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or up to 4 hours) to allow flavors to combine. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

For best results, use fresh corn and freshly squeezed lime juice. If making ahead, add the avocado just before serving to prevent browning. Season in layers for better flavor. Do not freeze or reheat this salad as it will ruin the texture of the avocado and corn.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5-7 minutes
Category: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1
Calories: 180
Sugar: 4
Sodium: 250
Fat: 9
Saturated Fat: 1.5
Carbohydrates: 22
Fiber: 6
Protein: 5

Keywords: charred sweet corn salad, summer potluck side, black bean avocado salad, vegan side dish, gluten-free salad, grilled corn salad, lime dressing