Tropical Charred Corn Avocado Salad (Printable)
Sweet charred corn meets creamy avocado and tropical fruits in a zesty lime dressing. Ready in 30 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Vegetables & Fruits
01 - 3 ears fresh corn, husked
02 - 2 ripe avocados, diced
03 - 1 cup fresh pineapple, diced
04 - 1 mango, peeled and diced
05 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped
06 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
07 - 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
→ Dressing
08 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
09 - Juice of 2 limes
10 - 1 clove garlic, minced
11 - 1 teaspoon honey or agave syrup
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
13 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Optional Toppings
14 - 1 small jalapeño, thinly sliced
15 - Crumbled feta cheese, to taste
# How-To:
01 - Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Lightly brush the corn cobs with olive oil.
02 - Grill the corn, turning occasionally, until charred in spots and cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly, then cut the kernels from the cobs.
03 - In a large bowl, combine the charred corn kernels, diced avocado, pineapple, mango, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and cilantro.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, minced garlic, honey or agave syrup, ground cumin, salt, and pepper until well blended.
05 - Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss to combine, being careful not to mash the avocado.
06 - Sprinkle with jalapeño slices and crumbled feta cheese if desired. Serve immediately, or chill briefly for a refreshing side.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The contrast of smoky charred corn against sweet mango and pineapple is the kind of flavor surprise that makes guests ask for the recipe before they finish their plate.
- It comes together in under thirty minutes with zero cooking skills required beyond not burning the corn which honestly even adds character.
02 -
- Avocado browning is the enemy of this salad so if you are making it ahead dice the avocado last and squeeze a little extra lime juice directly on it before folding it in.
- The charred corn flavor deepens if you let it sit for a few minutes off the grill before cutting so resist the urge to slice immediately.
03 -
- If you cannot find good fresh corn frozen corn kernels roasted in a scorching hot cast iron skillet will give you surprisingly excellent char in a pinch.
- The secret to the dressing is balancing sweet and acidic so keep tasting until it hits that perfect bright spot that makes you want to lick the whisk.