New Mexico Corn and Black Bean Salad

Bursting with vibrant flavors and fresh ingredients, this New Mexico Corn and Black Bean Salad is a colorful, nutrient-packed dish perfect for warm-weather gatherings or quick weeknight meals. Featuring tender sweet corn, protein-rich black beans, juicy cherry tomatoes, and creamy avocado, this salad is enhanced with a zesty lime-cumin dressing that ties it all together. The addition of red bell pepper, red onion, and chopped cilantro gives it a southwestern flair, while a sprinkle of crumbled cotija cheese (optional) adds a delightful touch of salty richness. Ready in just 15 minutes with no cooking required, this easy-to-make salad is ideal as a refreshing side dish, potluck star, or even a light vegetarian main course. Perfect for fans of bold, fresh flavors, this recipe is a must-try for any summer menu!

Nutriscore Rating: 83/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:15 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh sweet corn (kernels removed from the cob)
• 1 cup canned black beans (rinsed and drained)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 1 medium red bell pepper (diced)
• 0.5 medium red onion (finely chopped)
• 1 large avocado (diced)
• 0.25 cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lime juice (freshly squeezed)
• 0.5 teaspoons ground cumin
• 0.25 teaspoons chili powder
• 0.5 teaspoons salt
• 0.25 teaspoons black pepper
• 0.25 cup crumbled cotija cheese (optional)

Directions

Step 1

In a large bowl, combine the sweet corn kernels, black beans, cherry tomatoes, diced red bell pepper, chopped red onion, and diced avocado.

Step 2

Sprinkle the chopped fresh cilantro over the top of the vegetable mixture.

Step 3

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, ground cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.

Step 4

Pour the dressing evenly over the salad ingredients and gently toss everything together until evenly coated.

Step 5

Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning with additional salt, lime juice, or black pepper if needed.

Step 6

Transfer the salad to a serving bowl or platter and sprinkle crumbled cotija cheese over the top, if desired.

Step 7

Serve chilled or at room temperature as a side dish or light main course.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1344.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1340.6

Total Fat 72.7g	0%
Saturated Fat 14.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 25mg	0%
Sodium 2132.0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 155.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 45.0g	0%
Total Sugars 39.2g
Protein 42.2g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 396.4mg	0%
Iron 9.8mg	0%
Potassium 3537.3mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 45.3%

Protein: 11.7%

Carbs: 43.1%