Flavorful grilled steak is dressed up for summer with a fresh and wholesome salsa. This Simply Grilled Steak with Grilled Corn and Black Bean Salsa is a delicious summer meal.
I have one more summer blast for you all this Labor Day weekend before we surrender to the cooler months and warm and cozy foods of fall.
This is one of my all time favorite dishes to make during summer when corn on the cob is stacked high in the stores. My Safeway had a good supply this week, leading up to the 3 day weekend. You can substitute frozen corn if you want to make this at another time of year since all of the remaining ingredients are readily available year round. Fresh grilled corn just screams summer, so use it if you can get it.
This salsa is excellent with both grilled chicken and steak, but, in honor of Labor Day weekend, I thought I’d go with steak. That idea goes over well in my house.
The grocery list – Bush’s Seasoned Recipe Black Beans, salt, pepper, vegetable oil, cilantro, green onions, avocado, red bell pepper, cherry or grape tomatoes, 2 ears corn on the cob, olive oil, garlic powder, white wine vinegar, and a little sugar.
You’ll also need about 1-1/2 pounds of top sirloin steak. Cut the steak into serving size portions if necessary.
Let’s get started with the corn. I husk my corn over my sink that I’ve lined with a paper towel so that I catch all the husks and silk. Then I can just scoop it all up and throw it in the trash. I find this easier than leaning over a garbage can or cleaning up my kitchen counter.
Get your outdoor grill preheated to medium heat and throw on the husked corn. If I was grilling the corn to serve as a side dish, I’d brush it with a little vegetable oil while it was grilling but it’s not necessary to add any oil here. Pull the top down on the barbecue and let it grill for about 15 minutes, rotating every now and then.
While the corn is grilling, let’s get started on the dressing. In a small bowl whisk together the white wine vinegar, vegetable oil, sugar, garlic powder, the juice from 1/2 a lime, and salt and pepper to taste.
This dressing is so simple but trust me, it’s going to give the salsa an addictive, can’t stop eating this stuff, flavor. Set it aside for now.
Empty the black beans into a colander, lightly rinse them and allow them to drain well.
Chop the cherry or grape tomatoes in half, chop the green onion, dice the red bell pepper, and give the cilantro a rough chop. We aren’t going to deal with the avocado just yet. That will come later. Time to go get the corn off the grill.
Let the corn cool till it can be handled easily then hold it upright on a cutting board and run a sharp knife down the sides to remove the kernels.
I just had to include another shot of the corn cause I thought this was a cool angle. Cool corn shot.
Let’s put it all together. Grab a medium serving bowl and in go the black beans and tomatoes.
Add the green onions, red bell pepper, and cilantro. Combine it well.
Add the corn.
Now the dressing goes over the top. Stir the dressing in till all the veggies are well coated. I don’t like to add the avocado until just before serving so it’s time to cover the bowl and place it in the fridge while you prepare the steak. You can actually prepare the salsa to this point several hours ahead of time if you want.
Drizzle the steak with some olive oil.
Then season them, pretty generously, with salt and pepper. Flip them over and do the other side.
There could not be a more simple way to prepare steak than this but it is wonderful. Steak tastes good, you really don’t need to do that much to it and we are going to get a ton of flavor from the salsa so you don’t want any strong marinade or seasoning flavors competing with that.
Throw them on the grill at medium heat and let them go for about 7 minutes per side, give or take, depending on thickness. This will result in steak that is cooked medium – just a little pink so vary the time based on your preferences. Remove them from the grill and allow them to sit for 5 or 10 minutes before serving. This gives us time to finish up the salsa.
Chop the avocado and add it to the salsa.
Toss it lightly to combine. How gorgeous is this? And, let me tell you, it tastes even better than it looks.
Spoon a generous amount of the pretty salsa over the steak and serve it up.
And, that, my friends, is a beautiful end of summer meal.
Grilled Steak with Corn and Black Bean Salsa
Ingredients
For the Corn and Black Bean Salsa
- 2 ears corn on the cob
- 16 ounce can black beans, I like Bush's Seasoned Recipe Black Beans
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- ½ red bell pepper, diced
- 4 green onions, chopped
- ½ cup cilantro leaves, chopped
- 1 large avocado, chopped
For the Dressing
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ lime, juiced
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the Steak
- 1½ pounds top sirloin steak, cut into serving size pieces, if needed
- extra virgin olive oil, as needed
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
Grill the Corn
- Preheat your grill to MEDIUM to MEDIUM-HIGH heat. Husk the corn and place it on the grill. Grill, covered, for about 12 to 15 minutes. Rotate the corn a few times while grilling. Remove it from the grill and allow it to cool for a few minutes.
Make the Dressing
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, oil, sugar, garlic powder, lime, salt and pepper. Set aside.
Start the Salsa
- Empty the can of black beans into a colander. rinse lightly, and drain well.
- Run a sharp knife down the sides of the corn cob to remove the grilled kernels. In a medium serving bowl, combine the drained black beans, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, green onions, cilantro, and corn. Toss with the dressing. Do not add the avocado, that will come later. Cover and chill while preparing the steak (the salsa can be made to this point in advance and refrigerated for up to 4 hours).
Grill the Steak
- Allow steak to rest at room temperature for 30 to 40 minutes before starting.
- Preheat your grill on MEDIUM heat. Place the steak on a large platter or baking sheet. Drizzle generously with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, on both sides. Grill the steak for about 7 to 8 minutes per side for medium rare to medium, depending on the thickness. Cook a few minutes longer for well done (see notes below for temperature). Remove from the grill and allow the steaks to rest for 5 or 10 minutes before serving.
Finish the Salsa and Serve
- Remove the salsa from refrigerator and add the chopped avocado. Toss lightly to combine.
- Slice the steak, if you'd like. Garnish servings with a scoop of the the salsa and serve.
Notes
- Medium Rare (130 degrees F-140 degrees F) – Warm red center
- Medium (140 degrees F -150 degrees F) – Warm pink center
- Medium Well (150 degrees F -160 degrees F) – Slightly pink center
- Well (Over 160 degrees F) – Little or no pink
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.
As I try to avoid carbs for my dieting lately, this sounds like an excellent meal choice for dinner! I love that you eat this salsa with delicious steak. It makes it very light and refreshing! We’ll be still grilling so saving this for later this week – supposed to be another warm weekend. 🙂
I want some! That salsa looks so perfect.
What a delicious meal! Love the grilled corn salad and those steaks are perfect!!! Looks like you and your family are having a wonderful Labor Day weekend thus far.
I saw that you are going to the Foodbuzz Festival and decided to come pay your kitchen a visit. I’ve made similar corn & black bean salad (one of my fave combos). Your version looks beautiful with the cherry tomatoes and the avocado. I’d eat two helpings of that any day!