Black Bean Corn Salsa

Salsa, Plus!

Are you a salsa fan? I sure am! I can totally make a meal out of chips and salsa. Put a basket of chips in front of me and watch out! The problem is, a meal of chips and salsa doesn’t have a lot of nutritional value.

Ta-da! Black bean corn salsa comes to the rescue. Chock full of healthy beans (protein!) and colorful veggies, this salsa is filling and nutritious. Guess what? A half cup serving only has 85 calories! It’s practically guilt free.

And does it taste good? You betcha! Would I make you eat something that doesn’t taste good? I don’t think so (although my kids would probably disagree).

Black Bean Corn Salsa

So much better than store-bought salsa! Homemade black bean corn salsa isn’t anything like that black bean corn salsa you may have purchased at your grocery store. It usually comes in a jar much like regular salsa. Yeah, and it pretty much tastes like canned salsa with a few beans and corn kernels thrown in. It’s not too exciting. Let’s just say, you’re in for a real treat with this easy salsa recipe.

A salsa that’s almost a salad. Black bean corn salsa is more like a scoopable salad, or a dip, somewhat similar to pico de gallo, with lots of fresh tomatoes, onions, peppers, and cilantro. I’ve added canned black beans and corn kernels to the mix. Freshly squeezed lime juice with a bit of warm cumin is the only dressing in this salsa; there’s no added oil or artificial ingredients.

Versatile. This salsa is not just for chips. Keep reading for lots more ways to enjoy black bean corn salsa. I could eat it just plain.

Ingredient Notes

• Black Beans: Canned black beans make this dip super easy. You can substitute pinto beans if you prefer. Rinse the beans in a colander with cool running water until the water runs clear before adding them to the dip.
• Corn: For convenience, canned corn can’t be beat. There are lots of different kinds so just choose the one you like best. If fresh corn on the cob is available, for sure you’ll want to use that. It has a nice crisp texture, and lots more flavor. It’s easy to cut the kernels off the cob.
• Tomatoes: I usually use Roma tomatoes for this dip because they are meatier and not as juicy. Grape or cherry tomatoes are fine if you cut them into halves or quarters. If fresh tomatoes aren’t available, use a can of diced tomatoes, drained well.
• Red Onion: Red onion is perfect for this salsa but a sweet onion such as Vidalia is good, too.
• Jalapeño Pepper: Remove the ribs and seeds from the pepper before adding it to the dip to make the salsa more mild. The heat of jalapeños can really vary so taste a little bit before you add it all to the dip.
• Cilantro: Fresh cilantro is a must for salsa. Use the leaves and tender stems.
• Fresh Lime Juice: One lime will give you just enough juice.
• Cumin: This earthy spice is added to many southwestern style recipes.
• Salt & Pepper: Season the salsa to taste.

How To Make Black Bean Corn Salsa

This is a pretty easy recipe to make. It does involve a little chopping and dicing so you’ll need a sharp knife and cutting board.

Prep beans and corn. Make sure your can of beans is rinsed and drained. Put the beans in a colander in the sink and run water over them until the water runs clear. You can drain the can of corn in the same colander (no need to rinse it).

Prep tomatoes. Wash the tomatoes and cut them in half lengthwise. You’ll want to remove some of the seeds and the jelly-like part of the tomato by gently squeezing the halves. Dice the tomatoes into fairly small pieces so that they are “dippable.”

Prep onion and pepper. Peel and dice the red onion. You’ll only need about a quarter cup. Cut the stem end off the jalapeño pepper; cut it in half lengthwise and remove the ribs and seeds. Chop it pretty finely (minced). You probably don’t want huge chunks of jalapeño pepper in your salsa.

Prep cilantro. Rinse the cilantro well and shake off the excess water. A salad spinner works well. You can use the thin stems as well as the leaves. Chop it up, and now we’re good to go.

Mix it all together. Simply put all the ingredients into a bowl, add the cumin and lime juice, and season with salt and pepper.

Stir it up and it’s ready to serve.

Looking for a cocktail to go with your salsa? Try a spicy Paloma or strawberry margarita punch. I love a frosty G &T with chips and my hubby always goes for a cold craft beer.

How To Cut Corn From The Cob

Set a small bowl upside down inside a large shallow bowl. I usually put them both in my sink to contain the mess a bit. Center the stem end of the corn on top of the small bowl. Using a sharp, thin-bladed knife, cut the kernels off the cob, top to bottom. The corn will neatly fall into the larger bowl.
A bundt cake pan works surprisingly well too. The center hole can be used to position and hold the corn cob, and the cut corn falls into the pan. Nifty!

What To Serve With Black Bean Corn Salsa

• Tortilla chips (of course): Buy a bag of your favorite chips or make your own. For a healthier choice, try baked tortilla chips or air fryer tortilla chips. There’s nothing like freshly made, warm chips, and these have very little added oil or salt. (Be sure to try my Mexican street corn dip, too!)
• Nachos: Arrange your chips on a platter, load it up with cheese, bake or microwave until the cheese is melted, then top it with lots of this salsa. So good! It’s also great on cauliflower nachos or vegetarian nachos (we love the creamy cilantro lime drizzle on these nachos.
• Quesadillas: Black bean corn salsa takes cheese quesadillas to another dimension.
• Bowls: If you’re a fan of burrito bowls, they are simple to make. Start with warm rice, add cooked meat of your choice, and top it all with this salsa. So easy and delicious! You’ll really want to try this BBQ chicken bowl.
• Salads: Turn a bowl of plain greens into a power salad simply by adding a few spoonfuls of this salsa.
• Tacos, Burritos, etc: Use black bean salsa anywhere you would add regular salsa!

Recipe Variations

Add avocado. Stir in a diced avocado right before serving. The dip will be similar to cowboy caviar or my black bean and avocado salad (served with chips).

Make adjustments according to what you prefer. This is your salsa so tweak the ingredients any way you choose. Don’t like tomatoes? Make it with no tomatoes. Not a fan of corn? That’s okay, you could easily sub in chopped bell peppers. Love garlic? Go ahead and add a clove, finely minced. You get the idea.

Sub in canned tomatoes: A can of diced tomatoes (14.5 oz.) drained as much as possible, can be used instead of the fresh tomatoes.

Make Ahead Ideas

Since this salsa keeps well, it can be made ahead. In fact, it’s even a bit better the next day. It can be frozen, too, so if you have an abundance of tomatoes or corn, go ahead and make a double batch and freeze some to eat later. It won’t taste quite as fresh, but it will still be yummy.

Storage Tips

Refrigerate/Freeze: Assuming the salsa is refrigerated promptly, it can be stored in the refrigerator safely for five days. If you prefer, transfer it to freezer safe containers, and freeze it for up to two months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge, give it a good stir, and it is ready to serve.