Charred Sweetcorn, Avocado & Quinoa Salad
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Total: 20 mins
Sweetcorn love a kick of smoky heat. Toasting them till they're charred then tossing them with cumin, cayenne pepper and garlic gives the kernels a warm, earthy flavour. Combined with ready-to-eat spicy Mexican quinoa, juicy vine tomatoes and creamy avocado, they make a mouthwatering salad that's delicious eaten warm from the pan or cold the next day.
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540 kcal
(per portion)
Ingredients you'll need
  • 2 sweetcorn cobs
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 tsp cumin seeds
  • A pinch of cayenne pepper
  • 250g spicy Mexican quinoa
  • 1 red onion
  • 400g vine tomatoes
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 avocado
  • A handful of coriander
  • A handful of basil
From your kitchen
  • 1½ tbsp olive oil.
Step by step this way
  • 1.

    Peel the husks and fibres away from the sweetcorn cobs and discard them. Slice a sliver from the base of each cob so it stands upright. Stand a cob in a large, shallow bowl and run a sharp knife down the sides to remove the kernels. Repeat with the other cob. Peel and grate or crush the garlic clove.

  • 2.

    Place a dry frying pan on the hob for a few mins. When warm, drizzle in 1 tbsp olive oil and add the sweetcorn kernels with a large pinch of salt and the cumin seeds. and a pinch of cayenne (it’s spicy, so use as much or as little as you’d like). Toast for 4 mins, tossing the pan regularly till most of the kernels are golden.

  • 3.

    Add the garlic and cook for a further 1 min, stirring. Tip the cooked corn, garlic and cumin into a large bowl. Tip in the quinoa and use a fork to fluff it up.

  • 4.

    Peel the red onion and add it to a small bowl. Halve the lemon and squeeze the juice from half over the onion. Add a pinch of salt, scrunch together with your hands then set aside to pickle for 5 mins.

  • 5.

    Roughly chop the tomatoes. Add to the bowl with the corn. Halve the avocado and scoop out the flesh with a spoon, discarding the stone. Cut the avocado into chunks to match the tomato. Add them to the bowl. Squeeze the juice from the remaining half lemon over the avocado then lightly toss to coat in the lemon juice.

  • 6.

    Finely chop the coriander stalks and roughly chop the leaves. Tear the basil leaves. Add the herbs to the bowl. Drizzle in ½ tbsp olive oil and add some salt and pepper. Toss together.

  • 7.

    Taste the salad and add more salt or pepper if you think it needs it. Serve straight away.