Black Bean and Corn Salad with Chipotle-Honey Vinaigrette

Packed with black beans, sweet corn, and a tangy vinaigrette with just the right balance of smoky heat and sweetness, this bold, vibrant salad is perfect for a cookout, potluck, or taco night. Bonus: it holds up beautifully in the fridge and makes a fabulous dip, too.

By Exeter Produce

Jul 23, 2025

Prep Time

30

Cook Time

1hr chill time

Servings

6

Nutritional Info

Serving size: approximately 1 cup Calories: 357 Fat: 20 g Saturated fat: 2 g Carbohydrates: 40 g Sugar: 12 g Fiber: 11 g Protein: 9 g Sodium: 306 mg Cholesterol: 0 mg

P

erhaps the best compliment this salad ever received was from one of my readers, who confessed to me, “I’m having an affair with this salad…please don’t tell anyone.” Another reader told me that she made this salad for a party, and later found one of her guests in her study, printing out copies of the recipe to hand out. It’s just one of those crowd-pleasing, make-ahead recipes that everyone loves. Whether I serve it with tequila lime chicken or as a dip with tortilla chips (highly recommend!), the bowl is always empty and the plates are always full.

Ingredients

For the Salad

2 ears fresh corn
1 cup chopped red onion
1 (14.5 oz) can black beans
1 red bell pepper, diced (about 1 cup)
½ cup loosely packed fresh chopped cilantro (plus a bit more for garnish, if desired)
1 avocado
For the Dressing
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, from 1-2 limes
2 tablespoons honey
¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large garlic clove, roughly chopped
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
¾ teaspoon cumin
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

2 canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (2 peppers, not 2 cans; use smaller peppers and if they are all large, use only 1½)

Method

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the corn, cover, and turn the heat down to low. Simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the corn from the water and let cool.
Meanwhile, place the chopped red onions in a small bowl and cover with water. Let sit about ten minutes, then drain completely in a sieve and set aside.
Place the beans in a sieve; run under cold water to rinse well. Let drain completely and set aside.
Holding the cooled corn upright in a large bowl, cut the kernels off the cob in strips. Add the beans, red onion, red bell pepper and cilantro.

Make the dressing by combining all of the ingredients in a blender or mini food processor; process until smooth.
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or, preferably, overnight.
Right before serving, slice the avocado in half. Remove the pit; using a butter knife, cut a grid in each half. Holding the avocado halves over the salad, use a spoon to scoop out the diced flesh. Toss the salad gently, then taste and adjust seasoning if necessary (I usually add a squeeze of fresh lime to freshen it up). Garnish with a bit of fresh chopped cilantro if desired. Serve cold.

Black Bean and Corn Salad with Chipotle-Honey Vinaigrette

About Us

Located in Southwestern Ontario, Exeter Produce is a grower and packer with over six decades of food handling experience.

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Our Contacts

215 Thames Road West, Exeter, ON N0M 1S3
Canada

1 (519) 235-0141
1 (800) 881-4861