Summer Corn Tomato Avocado Salad (Printable)

Bright and fresh mix of corn, tomatoes, avocado, and lime dressing in a colorful summer dish.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 cups fresh corn kernels (about 3 ears, or use thawed frozen corn)
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 ripe avocado, diced
04 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
05 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Dressing

06 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
08 - 1/2 teaspoon honey or agave syrup
09 - 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# How-To:

01 - If using fresh corn, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add corn kernels and cook for 2 minutes, then drain and cool. If using frozen corn, thaw and drain well.
02 - In a large bowl, combine the corn, cherry tomatoes, avocado, red onion, and cilantro.
03 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss to combine.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately, or chill for 15 minutes for enhanced flavor.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 20 minutes, which means you can make it while guests are arriving instead of stressing in the kitchen.
  • The lime vinaigrette is so bright and balanced that even people who claim they don't like cilantro end up asking for the recipe.
02 -
  • Don't dress the salad more than an hour before serving or the avocado will oxidize and turn brown, making the whole thing look sad even though it still tastes fine.
  • If you're using fresh corn on the cob, cutting the kernels off cleanly is easier if you let the ear cool completely first and then cut downward along the cob with a sharp knife.
03 -
  • If your corn doesn't taste as sweet as you'd hoped, a small pinch of honey in the dressing will help highlight what sweetness is there without making it taste like dessert.
  • Toasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds add a texture that makes this feel more like a composed salad, and they pair beautifully with the lime dressing.
Go Back