Weeknight Cooking

Black Bean and Roasted Corn Salad

August  8, 2016
5
1 Ratings
Photo by Alexandra Stafford
  • Serves 8 to 10 as a side
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
  • 1 pound dried black beans
  • 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 onion, halved
  • Few sprigs thyme, optional
  • 1 garlic clove, smashed
  • Bean salad
  • 4 cups cooked black beans
  • 2 ears corn, kernels removed
  • 2 red bell peppers, finely diced
  • 1 to 2 jalapeños, diced (seeded if sensitive to heat)
  • 1 medium red onion, finely diced
  • 4 scallions, finely sliced, white and light green parts
  • 1 small bunch cilantro, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cups extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for the corn
  • 2 to 4 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
  • Kosher salt to taste
Directions
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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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I write the blog alexandra's kitchen, a place for mostly simple, sometimes fussy, and always seasonal recipes. My cookbook, Bread Toast Crumbs is available everywhere books are sold.

8 Reviews

Deb L. September 8, 2018
This is an incredible salad. I served it with Green Chile Chicken. What a great combo. I'm going to make and take this on 'girls trip'. They're going to love it. I added about a tablespoon of lime juice at the end. This is a great recipe when the corn is at its best. Make the effort to get some nice white balsamic vinegar. It makes a big difference.
Alexandra S. September 9, 2018
So happy to hear this, Deb! I love this one, too, this time of year :)
Freddurf October 4, 2016
This was so easy and so good! I didn't have any white balsamic so I used fresh lime juice and a dash of rice vinegar. I also added some rotisserie chicken and avocado for a complete dinner. DH said he wasn't hungry after a late lunch, but after reluctantly taking a bite, proceeded to fill up a huge bowl of it and made me promise to make it every week! Thanks for the easy recipe!
Alexandra S. October 5, 2016
Oh wow, all of these additions/substitutions sound so good!! Nice work.
Mindy S. September 21, 2016
OMG! This is the BEST black bean salad ever! I hate all legumes....but I love love love this! I never thought I'd like them. I'm going to have to fight w/ my guy over the last bite, I can tell. SAVER!!!!
Alexandra S. September 21, 2016
So happy to hear this, Mindy!! Fight fight fight!
Chris P. August 28, 2016
How do you make a smaller batch?
Alexandra S. August 28, 2016
Hi Chris! Hope you saw the answers in the question tab: https://food52.com/hotline/33401-a-question-about-a-recipe-black-bean-and-roasted-corn-salad