This vibrant salad combines roasted zucchini and corn with crunchy walnuts, creamy cotija, and hearty black beans—all tossed in a bright, herb-packed green goddess dressing. Perfect for summer, it balances fresh vegetables, healthy fats, fiber, and protein in one colorful bowl. Whether you serve it as a side or a main, this dish delivers on flavor and nutrition with minimal effort—plus, it's easy to customize for vegan diets by skipping the cheese. 

Ingredients

Salad

• 1 tbsp olive oil
  
  

• 3 medium zucchinis, cut into chunks
  
  

• 3 ears of corn, husks intact
  
  

• ½ cup toasted walnuts
  
  

• ⅓ cup cotija cheese
  
  

• 1 (15‑oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  
  

• Kosher salt & freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
  
  

Dressing

• 1 bunch fresh cilantro, stems removed (tender ok)
  
  

• 1 bunch fresh basil
  
  

• ½ bunch fresh parsley (≈1 cup), stems removed
  
  

• ½ cup raw cashews (soaked in boiling water for 30 minutes)
  
  

• ¼ cup olive oil
  
  

• 2 tbsp whole capers
  
  

• 1 tsp honey
  
  

• ¾–1 tsp kosher salt
  
  

• 2 cloves fresh garlic
  
  

• Juice of ½ lemon
  
  

• ½ tsp lemon zest
  
  

• Freshly cracked black pepper
  
  

• ¼–⅓ cup water, to thin
  
  

Directions

1. Roast the vegetables
   Preheat oven to 450 °F. On a baking sheet, toss zucchini with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place corn (husked) on the other half. Roast 20 minutes, then remove zucchini and roast corn an additional 15 minutes until husks are dark and crisp. Cool slightly.
   
   

2. Prep the salad
   Husk the corn, cut kernels into a large bowl, then add roasted zucchini, walnuts, and black beans. Wait to add cotija until veggies are cool.
   
   

3. Make the dressing
   Bring water to a boil and blanch cilantro, basil, and parsley one bunch at a time for 15 seconds. Immediately transfer to ice water, dry, then blend with soaked cashews, olive oil, capers, honey, salt, garlic, lemon juice and zest. Add water gradually until pourable. Season with salt and pepper.
   
   

4. Assemble & serve
   Once the salad has cooled, sprinkle cotija cheese and toss gently. Serve topped with green goddess dressing and enjoy!
   
   

Nutrients

(Per serving, makes ~4)

• Calories: ≈ 350 kcal
  
  

• Protein: ≈ 10 g
  
  

• Fat: ≈ 22 g (mostly healthy fats from olive oil, walnuts, cashews)
  
  

• Carbohydrates: ≈ 28 g (with fiber from zucchini, corn, beans)
  
  

• Fiber: ≈ 8 g
  
  

• Sugars: ≈ 6 g