grilled corn, tomato and black bean salad

smokey summer salad.

Om nom nom.  This is totally, completely, one hundred percent MY kind of salad.  No leaves.  The only problem I ever have with salads is the boring leaves!  I am not a dinosaur! Or a caterpillar!  Although my friends do tease me about eating like a rabbit but that is because rabbits eat veggies!  They stealthily sneak into gardens on a mission to munch vegetables... no time for the boring leaves.  Sheesh.  BUT this salad is a magnificent medley of Mexican inspired ingredients that you can eat as a side salad or for your main course.  Its sweet and citrusy with a hint of smokey-ness. Mmmmmm.  I must admit I got the idea for this salad from this recipe... I didn't think this up on my own but I did change the dressing slightly AND I can say that this was an excellent dish and a definite must-try!

Serves 4.
for the salad:
- 1 jalepeno pepper, grilled
- 2 cobs corn, grilled
- 3 tomatoes (use red ones to add colour but any will do!)
- 1 cup chopped spanish onion
- 1½ cup canned or cooked black beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 3 tbsp fresh chopped basil

for the dressing:
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 4 tsp honey
- 1½ tsp sweet paprika (use more, less, or hot paprika depending on your preference)
- salt and black pepper to taste

Brush corn and jalepeno with olive oil. Grill on high for 12 minute. Once corn has some browned kernels and jalepeno skin is charred remove from grill.  Peel jalepeno skin then chop. Slice corn off cob. Dice tomatoes. Chop onion. Chop basil. Mince garlic. Drain and rinse beans. Combine all.  In a seperate bowl make the dressing.  Drizzle dressing over salad. Toss. ENJOY!
 

*amounts depend on the size of your vegetables, but all are delicious so do not fret!  There was a verrrry minimal amount of spice in this, my sister (who cannot stand any spice) enjoyed it.. so throw another jalepeno in or some hot paprika if you like heat!  Since there are no boring leaves this salad saves well and makes for delicious leftovers!

a healthful hint: 

The beans pack this salad full of protein BUT beans do not contain all the essential amino acids that make up a complete protein for bodily function and uses.  This corn and bean combo is great because corn contains essential amino acids that the beans lack.  Eating these together adds their amino acids to give your body all the essentials it needs!  Its also a good idea to use extra virgin olive oil when cooking. or in this case grilling at high heats.  It takes a higher heat to cause this oil to break down and smoke which can cause it to become carcinogenic and lead to negative health effects.