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Creamy Grilled Corn Black Bean Salad: Easy Summer Side

creamy grilled corn black bean salad - featured image
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A smoky, creamy, and refreshing summer side dish featuring charred grilled corn, black beans, and a zesty lime-cilantro dressing. This vegetarian and gluten-free salad is easy to make, holds up well for picnics, and tastes even better the next day.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4–6 ears fresh ear corn on the cob
  • 2 cans (15 oz each) black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 large red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 medium red onion, finely diced
  • 2 ripe avocados, diced
  • 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • Juice of 3–4 limes (approx. 1/4 cup)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Cooking oil for grilling

Instructions

  1. Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
  2. Husk the corn, removing all silk and leaves, then brush lightly with oil.
  3. Grill corn for 10-12 minutes, turning every 3-4 minutes, until tender and charred on all sides. Let cool for 10 minutes.
  4. While corn cools, whisk together sour cream, mayo, lime juice, minced garlic, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until smooth.
  5. Once cool enough to handle, slice corn kernels off the cobs. Scrape cobs with the back of a knife to release milky juice.
  6. In a large mixing bowl, combine corn kernels, black beans, red bell pepper, red onion, and cilantro.
  7. Pour the dressing over the vegetable mixture and toss gently to coat evenly.
  8. Just before serving, fold in the diced avocados to maintain texture.
  9. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld before serving cold or at room temperature.

Notes

For best results, use fresh corn with bright green husks. Rinse black beans thoroughly to remove excess sodium and starch. If you don’t have a grill, you can roast the corn in the oven at 400°F for 20 minutes. The salad improves in flavor after sitting in the fridge for a few hours. Do not freeze this salad as the avocado and dressing will separate.

Nutrition

Keywords: grilled corn salad, black bean salad, summer side dish, vegetarian recipe, gluten-free salad, creamy corn salad, BBQ side dish, meal prep

Find it online: https://cheerycrisp.com/creamy-grilled-corn-black-bean-salad-easy-summer-side/