Avocado Corn Salad

Ingredients

For the salad:

• 1 pound grape or cherry tomatoes, red, yellow, or a mix, halved
• 3 ears of cooked sweet corn (grilled or boiled), shucked and sliced off the cob
• 2 avocados peeled, pitted, and diced
• 1 small red onion, peeled, quartered lengthwise, and thinly sliced
• 1 cup cooked black beans, drained and rinsed if canned (optional)
• 1/4 cup roughly chopped cilantro leaves
• Butter lettuce leaves, such as Little Gem, for serving (optional)

For the dressing:

• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (from 1 to 2 limes), or more to taste
• 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
• 1 to 2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely minced
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt (kosher or sea), or more to taste
• 1 teaspoon merquén (see Notes below) or chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Make the salad: In a large mixing bowl, place the tomatoes, corn, avocados, onion, black beans (if using), and cilantro; stir gently with a rubber spatula to combine.

Step 2

Make the dressing: In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the olive oil, lime juice, vinegar, garlic, salt, merquén (see Notes below), and black pepper. Shake vigorously to emulsify. Taste, adding more lime juice or salt; the dressing should be highly seasoned. Drizzle over the salad, mixing gently with a rubber spatula.

Step 3

If using, arrange the lettuce leaves in a single layer on a platter. Tip the avocado and corn salad over the leaves. Or simply transfer the salad to an attractive serving bowl. Serve immediately.

Notes: Merquén is a spice blend unique to Chile, one we have come to love: It consists of smoked and dried goat’s horn chiles, salt, cumin, and toasted ground coriander. Find it at well-stocked spice stores or online. The salad can be made up to several hours ahead, covered, and refrigerated. But prepare and add the avocado just before serving.