Author Notes
After reading Steve Sando's tips in Heirloom Beans, I'm not afraid to go big on the salt and use a high ratio of vinegar to oil in my bean salads.
I am a fan of the Cook's Illustrated bean-brining method as opposed to soaking, but feel free to use your favorite bean-soaking/cooking method. —Alexandra Stafford
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Ingredients
- Brining and cooking the beans
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1 pound
dried black beans
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3 tablespoons
plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt
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1
onion, halved
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Few sprigs thyme, optional
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1
garlic clove, smashed
- Bean salad
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4 cups
cooked black beans
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2
ears corn, kernels removed
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2
red bell peppers, finely diced
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1 to 2
jalapeños, diced (seeded if sensitive to heat)
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1
medium red onion, finely diced
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4
scallions, finely sliced, white and light green parts
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1
small bunch cilantro, roughly chopped
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1/4 to 1/2 cups
extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for the corn
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2 to 4 tablespoons
white balsamic vinegar
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Kosher salt to taste
Directions
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Brine the beans: Place the beans in a large bowl with the 3 tablespoons of salt and water to cover by several inches. Let sit overnight or for 10 to 12 hours. Drain but do not rinse. Place beans in a large pot with the remaining teaspoon of salt, the onion, thyme, and garlic. Cover with water by several inches. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat so water is gently simmering. Simmer until beans are cooked through, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Let beans cool in their cooking liquid.
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Preheat the oven to 425° F. Place 4 cups of the cooked beans in a large strainer or colander. Do not rinse the beans. Let the beans drain as you prepare the salad.
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On a rimmed sheetpan, toss the corn kernels with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer pan to oven and roast for 10 minutes. Remove pan. Let kernels cool briefly.
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In a large mixing bowl, place the beans, corn, peppers, onion, scallions, and cilantro. Season with 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Dress with 1/4 cup olive oil and 2 tablespoons vinegar. Toss. Let stand 5 minutes, then toss again, taste, and adjust with more salt, oil and vinegar to taste. I add salt by the 1/2 teaspoon until it tastes right, and I keep a 2-to-1 oil-to-vinegar ratio for the most part—sometimes a splash more vinegar or a squeeze of lime at the end helps.
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