Mexican Street Corn Dense Bean Salad

This Mexican Street Corn Dense Bean Salad takes everything you love about classic elote- creamy, tangy, and a little smoky – and turns it into something way more filling. It’s fresh, flavorful, and hearty enough to actually count as a meal!

Author: Food with Feeling

Meal Type: Peanuts Free

Cuisine: Mexican

Difficulty: EASY

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time:

Total Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 6 Servings

Calories: 454 kcal per serving

Ingredients

15 ounces - chickpeas
15 ounces - black beans
2 cups - corn
1 cup - edamame
1 - red bell pepper
1 - jalapeño
½ - red onion
⅓ cup - fresh cilantro
⅓ cup - cotija cheese
3 tablespoons - mayonnaise
3 tablespoons - Mexican crema
2 tablespoons - red wine vinegar
1 - lime
2 cloves - garlic
½ tsp - chipotle chili powder
½ tsp - fine sea salt
½ tsp - black pepper

Instructions

Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients: mayo, crema/ sour cream, red wine vinegar, lime zest and juice, garlic, chili powder, salt and black pepper.
Combine the salad: In a large mixing bowl, mix together the salad ingredients: chickpeas, black beans, corn, edamame, bell pepper, jalapeño, red onion, and cilantro. Toss to combine.
Dress and toss: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well until everything is evenly coated.
Chill: Top with the cotija cheese and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving for best flavor. Stir before serving and top with extra cotija and cilantro if desired. Enjoy!
Storage Instructions – Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3–4 days. Stir before serving and refresh with a squeeze of lime if needed.
For the corn: Grilled corn off the cob gives the best flavor — grill 4 ears at 400°F for about 12 minutes, turning every 3 minutes. In a pinch, one 15 oz can of fire-roasted corn works great and keeps this completely no-cook.
Bean swap: Black beans keep it in the Mexican flavor profile, but cannellini or pinto would also work well. You can leave out the edamame or swap it for other beans as desired.

Nutrition