Charred Corn Salad with Quinoa, Avocado & Chilli, Lime & Maple Dressing

Charred Corn Salad with Quinoa, Avocado & Chilli, Lime & Maple Dressing

Golden sunshine on a plate. We're talking charred corn. Roasted vitamin A-rich sweet potato. Juicy plum tomatoes. Zingy pickled red onion. A zesty chilli and lime dressing to give it a kick. Toss with ready-cooked quinoa for an extra fibre boost.

1/3 daily fibre 5 of 5 a day Low sat fat

Serving size

Cook time: 30 mins
Cuisine: Mexican
Food group: Vegan

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Cooking Instructions

The protein cooking time listed in this recipe has been updated.

As of December 2025, we’ve revised cooking times for all our proteins to reflect improved food safety guidance.

Check out the latest recommended times in our Cooking Guidelines.

Before you start

  • Preheat the oven to 240C / fan 220C / gas mark 9
  • Line a baking tray with parchment paper
  • Pull out a medium saucepan, a medium frying pan, a large bowl & a small bowl

Get started

  • Cut half of the onion into 1cm wedges, then thinly slice the remaining. Dice the sweet potato into 2cm chunks
  • Add the potato to the lined baking tray. Toss with half the Mexican spice, 1 tsp oil, a pinch of salt and pepper. Roast for 10 mins
  • After 10 mins, add the onion wedges to the tray and toss with the sweet potato. Roast for a further 15-20 mins, until soft and golden

Pickle the onion & prep

  • Halve the lime
  • Add the sliced onion to the large bowl with the juice of half the lime and a pinch of salt. Set aside to pickle
  • Halve the tomatoes. Thinly slice the half avocado

Boil & make the dressing

  • Bring the medium saucepan filled with salted water to a boil. Remove the husk from the corn, then add to the saucepan and boil for 6-8 mins, until just cooked, then remove from the pan with tongs or a slotted spoon
  • Meanwhile, in the small bowl, combine the juice of the remaining lime with the maple syrup, chilli paste and 1 tbsp olive oil. Season with salt and pepper

Char the corn

  • Heat the medium frying pan with 1 tsp oil on medium-high heat. Once hot, add the corn and cook for 3-5 mins, turning occasionally, until golden brown. In the final 1 min, add a pinch of the remaining Mexican spice and turn to coat the corn, then remove from the pan and allow to cool slightly
  • Keep the pan on medium heat, then add the quinoa lentil mix and a splash of water. Cook for 2-3 mins, until piping hot. Season with salt
  • Cut the corn off the cob

Plate up

  • When ready, add the roasted veg, tomatoes, avocado, quinoa mix and corn to the large bowl along with half the chilli dressing. Toss to combine, then add the salad leaves and mix gently. Taste and season if needed
  • Share the salad between plates, sprinkle with the pumpkin seeds and drizzle with the remaining dressing to finish

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