sweet summer corn and black bean salad
Summer may not officially start until June, but our local markets are filling up with traditional summer fruits and vegetables. Bins of grass green watermelons are slowly appearing in the produce section. The vendors at our farmers’ market are selling zucchini and yellow crookneck squash. My own little garden is producing its first cherry tomatoes, plum tomatoes, and summer squash. And, maybe best of all, fresh sweet corn is making its arrival.
About a week ago, I sent my husband to the grocery to pick up some fresh summer corn. We had decided to grill steaks on the gas grill for dinner, and when I think of grilling, I almost automatically think of corn on the cob. Wanting to mix things up a bit – because I’m wild and crazy like that – I did something a little different with the corn.
I sauteed the kernels just for a few minutes, added some black beans, a handful of cherry tomatoes, and some torn romaine lettuce. The salad was colorful, with a lovely sweetness from the corn and tomatoes. The beans provided a savory element in the salad, and all-in-all, the salad was light and refreshing.
It was a perfect summer, or almost summer, salad.
Yield: Serves 6.
Corn and Black Bean Salad
You can vary the amount of lettuce and tomatoes depending on your taste. Also, you can vary the salad dressing. I didn't bother making my own dressing this time but instead used a good bottle of light ranch dressing.
Ingredients:
2-3 cups fresh corn kernels (from about 4 ears corn)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 head of romaine lettuce, coarsely chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 to 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 to 1/2 cup ranch dressing, or other salad dressing of your choice
Directions:
Preheat large sauté pan on medium high heat, 2-3 minutes. Sauté corn kernels in the olive oil until tender, about 2-4 minutes. Transfer corn to large bowl.
Combine remaining ingredients - black beans, lettuce, tomatoes - and toss with salad dressing, adding more if needed. Serve.
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This is a great salad for summer. Nice as a side for maybe Mexican food, or as a main dish with chicken on top! Thanks.
I love this kind of salad. It is so refreshing!
what a perfect almost summer salad….the corn is such a wonderful idea!
I love the combination of corn and black beans. It always makes for a great salad
Your salad looks like summer, thanks for the recipe!
Fantastic summer salad!
Love corn & black beans! Great summer salad! 🙂
This salad looks so delicious and refreshing! I can’t wait to make it. Thanks!
Beautiful! That salad sounds amazing. And what a pretty picture. Mm.
This is a beautiful recipe! I would love for you to enter it to our 8th monthly veggie contest. This month’s theme vegetable is corn!
More details: http://tiny.cc/ikije
Have a great day 🙂
This is one of my favourite salads – thanks for the reminder – needing a few more things to put back into rotation now the weather is warmer!