Avocado Corn Salad

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This avocado corn salad topped with lime juice and fresh basil. This salad is the perfect healthy summer side dish because there’s no cooking involved!

Obviously I love salads, but what I really love is unconventional salads that use unique ingredients… ones that aren’t just a bed of greens with some toppings. This corn and avocado salad is just that. You can eat it on its own, as a side or add it to a bed of greens with protein to make a meal sized salad.

Bowl of raw corn and avocado salad mixed with basil and red onion. Avocado halves and a napkin are beside the bowl. Spoon is in the bowl.

The summer heat makes me crave cool and refreshing meals and the last thing I want at a cook out is a heavy, warm dish to go along with a burger. I’ve found this corn salad to be the perfect healthy summer side dish. Everyone loves it and it’s so easy to toss together. The hardest part is cutting the corn off the cob and removing the silks, but even that isn’t too hard!

Easy Way to Remove Corn from the Cob

One little trick I use to make sure the kernels don’t go everywhere and make a huge mess is to put a small bowl upside-down inside of a large bowl. If you just use a single large bowl you can’t get your knife all the way down to the end of the cob.

Stand the corn, large side down, on top of the small bowl and use a knife to slice the kernels off the cob. The kernels will fall into the bottom of the bowl instead of all over your countertop.

You can also use a bundt or angel food cake pan for this, but I don’t bake a ton of cakes so I don’t have a bundt pan at the moment.

Is Raw Corn Safe to Eat?

Yes! Eating raw sweet corn right from the cob is perfectly okay to eat. It tastes just as delicious as cooked corn and is just as nutritious.

In general corn can be hard to digest (I’m sure you’ve noticed this just by taking a look at your poo after eating corn) and it may cause digestion problems in people with bowel conditions like IBS. I personally have no stomach issues with eating raw corn, but like most vegetables, raw corn is harder to digest than well-cooked corn. Cooking softens the kernels and begins break-down process, which can be helpful if you feel raw corn upsets your stomach. If you prefer to make this salad with cooked corn, I have instructions in the notes section of the recipe!

Hands cutting corn off of the cob. The corn cob is propped on a small bowl upside down in a larger bowl.

Ingredients in Avocado Corn Salad

  • sweet corn – we’re using fresh uncooked sweet corn for the star of this salad.
  • red onion – the perfect way to add a bit of flavor and crunch. You can use yellow onion if needed.
  • avocado – 
  • lime juice, basil, sea salt and ground pepper â€“ instead of an elaborate dressing, we’re using these four items to add a light and refreshing flavor to the salad.
Ingredients for corn and avocado salad in a bowl including basil, corn, red onion and avocado.

Notes and Substitutions

Protein â€“ You could always add protein by tossing in about 1/2 cup of beans (chickpeas or black beans would be delicious) or adding in some chopped grilled chicken. This apple cider vinegar chicken would be yummy.

Sweet corn 

Avocado and corn salad topped with fresh basil

How to Serve Avocado Corn Salad

I usually serve this as a side salad at potlucks, but it would work great as a dip as well. I tried dipping it with chips and it definitely works. It’s like a corn and avocado salsa.

Bowl of avocado and corn salad topped with fresh basil leaves.

How to Store Avocado Corn Salad

This salad stores super well!

To make it in advance: I would recommend leaving the avocado out and adding that in right before serving. The rest of the salad can be fully assembled and stored in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

To store leftovers: Store any leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator

More Corn Recipes to Try

More Recipes with Avocado to Try

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4.77 from 13 votes

Avocado Corn Salad

This avocado corn salad topped with lime juice and fresh basil. This salad is the perfect healthy summer side dish because there's no cooking involved!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients  

  • 6 ears of fresh uncooked sweet corn, husked and cut from cob (4 1/2 cups)*
  • 1 cup red onion, diced
  • 1 large avocado, diced
  • lime juice, 1 lime or about 3 Tablespoons
  • ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • Ground pepper, to taste

Instructions 

  • After husking and cutting corn from the cob, pull out as many corn silks as possible. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
  • Serve immediately or allow it to marinate for a few hours. I like to make it the night before and allow it to marinate over night as it tastes even better the next day.

Video

Notes

Protein – Add a little protein to this salad by tossing in about 1/2 cup of beans (chickpeas or black beans would be delicious) or adding in some chopped grilled chicken. This apple cider vinegar chicken would be yummy.
Sweet corn 

Nutrition

Serving: 1/8 of recipe | Calories: 114kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: corn and avocado salad
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About Brittany

Hey there, I’m Brittany, the creator of Eating Bird Food, cookbook author, health coach and mama of two littles. Here you’ll find quick and easy recipes that make healthy fun and enjoyable for you and your family!

More about Brittany
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46 Comments

  1. Use a Bundt pan for cutting corn. Just stand the ear on the center post and cut away. All the corn catches in the cake area.

  2. The recipe notes indicate there is quinoa in the salad, but I don’t see any listed in the recipe.

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