Home Healthy Eating Mexican Salad With Black Beans, Corn & Avocado

Mexican Salad With Black Beans, Corn & Avocado

by amazonskylers

You will adore this vibrant Mexican salad for its lively colors, varied textures, and bold flavors. I affectionately refer to it as the Fiesta salad because of its festive appearance, making it perfect for any celebration, especially outdoor gatherings, barbecues, or Mexican dinner parties. It is vegetarian, gluten-free, and can easily be made vegan-friendly.


Jump to: ℹ️ Overview | 🛒 Ingredients | 📷 How To Make | 🥗Serving Suggestions | 📝 Go To Full Recipe | More Mexican Recipes


Mexican Salad (aka Fiesta Salad)

I have a deep appreciation for Mexican and Tex-Mex recipes, and this salad holds a special place in my heart.

This festive Mexican salad features black beans, corn, avocado, tomatoes, red peppers, cilantro, Cotija cheese or feta, and a zesty garlic dressing.

With its tangy, flavorful profile, diverse textures, and vibrant hues, this salad exudes a celebratory vibe. It’s a hit with crowds and ticks the boxes for being vegetarian, gluten-free, and easily adaptable for vegans.

Whether it’s a barbecue, outdoor grilling session, Taco Tuesday, Tex-Mex soirée, or a healthy lunch prep, this salad fits the bill perfectly.

Moreover, this salad is packed with nutrition: abundant vitamins and antioxidants, plant-based protein (12g per serving), plenty of fiber for satiety, and relatively low in carbs for those mindful of their intake.

🥗 For more culinary inspiration, you may want to try my corn salad with quinoa and cherry tomatoes, my summery cowboy caviar, or explore my collection of 50 summer salad ideas.

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Ingredients For My Fiesta Salad

We’re incorporating all the classic Mexican salad components that are readily available in most stores: canned black beans (or cooked from scratch), corn (fresh, frozen, or canned), red bell peppers, tomatoes, red onions, cilantro, avocado, lime, olive oil, salt, chili, and garlic.

What Is Cotija Cheese?

Cotija cheese, a firm and crumbly Mexican cheese crafted from cow’s milk, offers a salty and tangy flavor akin to feta. Widely used as a topping in Mexican cuisine, it imparts a savory touch to dishes like tacos, salads, and beans. If unavailable, regular feta cheese can serve as a suitable substitute.

How To Prepare a Mexican Salad

Find detailed ingredients, nutritional information, and more in the recipe card below. Here are some visual steps to assist you:

  • Cooking black beans in the Instant Pot: Prepare black beans either from a can or by cooking from scratch. The pressure cooker method works well for me. I cook a batch of beans using specific ingredients and steps.
  • Step 1. Dice and chop all veggies. Rinse and strain black beans. Cook corn if necessary and strain.
  • Step 2. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, incorporating seasonings, lime juice, and olive oil. Top with feta or Cotija cheese. Mix the salad with or without the cheese and garnish with additional cilantro and lime wedges if desired.

Watch The Video

What To Serve With Mexican Salad

This salad offers versatility, serving as a satisfying main meal, especially for lunch. Pair it with cornbread, corn tortillas, or additional protein like grilled chicken, shredded beef, or shrimp on the side. As a side dish, it complements grilled meats, tacos, chicken wings, enchiladas, burritos, and Tex-Mex casseroles splendidly.

Leftovers work wonderfully with Tex-Mex scrambled eggs as a morning treat.

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This Mexican salad, known as Fiesta Salad, features black beans, corn, avocado, tomatoes, cilantro, and a tangy garlic dressing. Its colorful, bold, and festive essence is sure to delight!

  • Rinse and strain the black beans.

  • Cook the corn kernels if using frozen or fresh corn. Rinse under cold water and strain.

  • Dice and chop all ingredients.

  • Combine everything in a large bowl together and dress the salad with olive oil, lime juice, salt, chili powder, and garlic. You can toss the cheese through the salad or leave it out and top the salad once it is mixed.

  • Optional: Enhance the flavors with additional spices like cumin, ground coriander, or smoked paprika.
  • Vegan version: Omit the cheese or opt for a plant-based alternative.
  • Cooking black beans in the Instant Pot: Get your black beans ready using a pressure cooker, following specific steps.

Calories: 266kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 412mg | Potassium: 554mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1372IU | Vitamin C: 49mg | Calcium: 101mg |

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