Fresh Avocado Corn Tomato Salad for Summer BBQs
Every July Fourth my neighbor brings this exact combination to the backyard and everyone ignores the potato salad.
Ripe avocado, sweet corn, and juicy tomatoes need almost nothing from you. Fifteen minutes of chopping and it's done.
Fresh Avocado Corn Tomato Salad for Summer BBQs
A bright, no-cook side that holds its own next to anything coming off the grill.
Ingredients
- 2 ripe avocados, diced into 3/4-inch chunks
- 2 cups fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels , about 3 ears if cutting fresh
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/3 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice , from about 2 limes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt , plus more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
Tips & Notes
- If you are making this 1 to 2 hours ahead, press a sheet of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the salad before refrigerating. The direct contact slows browning.
- Grilling your corn first adds a smoky layer. Let the ears cool for 10 minutes before cutting so the kernels stay firm when you fold them in.
- Jalapeño works well here. Add half a seeded jalapeño, minced, with the onion if your crowd runs warm.
Nutrition per serving · estimated
Why Fresh Corn Makes a Difference Here
Frozen corn works fine in January but in July there is no comparison. Fresh corn off the cob has a snap to it and a faint milky sweetness that softened frozen kernels cannot replicate.
If you are at a store with a farmers market bin, press a fingernail into one kernel before you buy. It should push back slightly and release a little liquid. That is the corn you want for this salad.
How to Pick an Avocado That Is Actually Ready
An avocado that is not ripe will taste like nothing and refuse to cube cleanly. Hold it in your palm and press gently near the stem end. It should give a little without feeling mushy or hollow.
If yours are rock hard the day before a cookout, set them in a paper bag with a banana overnight. That usually gets them to a usable place by morning.
