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Southwestern Corn Salad

Southwestern Corn Salad

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Southwestern corn salad: a no-cook tossed salad with sweet corn, kidney beans, bell peppers, scallions, and cilantro in a light salsa-chili dressing. Vegan, picnic-ready, and made in 10 minutes.

YIELD

8 servings

PREP

10 min

COOK

0 min

READY

10 min

This is the kind of salad that gets better while you’re not watching it. A quick toss of corn, kidney beans, and chopped peppers gets dressed with salsa and a hit of chili powder, then heads to the fridge for a few hours so the vegetables can soak up the flavors. By the time it hits the table, it’s punchy, bright, and tastes nothing like the bland corn salads at most cookouts.

The salsa stands in for both vinaigrette and seasoning, which keeps the ingredient list short without sacrificing depth. Use a chunky jarred salsa you actually like eating with chips, since it carries most of the flavor here. Fresh cilantro added right before serving keeps its color and bite, while the canola oil helps the dressing cling to every kernel.

Serve alongside grilled chicken, fish tacos, or black bean burgers.

Kitchen Tips

  • Use fresh corn shaved off the cob in summer, frozen and thawed in winter, or grilled corn for smoky depth.
  • Rinse canned kidney beans well to remove the starchy can liquid.
  • Chill at least 2 hours, ideally overnight, for the best flavor melding.
  • Add cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice just before serving so they stay bright.

Variations

  • Swap kidney beans for black beans, pinto beans, or a mix for textural variety.
  • Add diced avocado or crumbled cotija cheese right before serving for richness.
  • Stir in a finely diced jalapeno for heat or a pinch of cumin for earthy warmth.

Ingredients

3 710
CUPS ML CORN
fresh, cooked
10 289
OUNCES ML/G KIDNEY BEANS, CANNED
drained
1 1
EACH SWEET RED BELL PEPPER
chopped
1 1
EACH GREEN BELL PEPPER
chopped
3 3
EACH SCALLIONS, SPRING OR GREEN ONIONS
finely chopped
½ 118
CUP ML CILANTRO
chopped
1 15
TABLESPOON ML CANOLA OIL
¼ 59
CUP ML SALSA
½ 2.5
TEASPOON ML CHILI POWDER

Directions

Gently toss together all ingredients and chill several hours before serving.

* not incl. in nutrient facts Arrow up button

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Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 139g (4.9 oz)
Amount per Serving
Calories 106 21% from fat
 % Daily Value *
Total Fat 3g 4%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 155mg 6%
Total Carbohydrate 6g 6%
Dietary Fiber 2g 10%
Sugars g
Protein 9g
Vitamin A 15% Vitamin C 61%
Calcium 2% Iron 6%
* based on a 2,000 calorie diet How is this calculated?
Low Fat, Low in Saturated Fat, Low Cholesterol, Cholesterol-Free, Trans-fat Free
 

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