Even if You’re Not a Foodie, You Will Love This Easy Grilled Corn Salad
Everyone loves a good salad, am I right? And even if you’re not a foodie, you will love this grilled corn salad! It is easy to make and tastes like summer. Yup, I said it. Tastes like summer!
Easy Grilled Corn Salad
A fresh summer salad that can be served with chips, or eaten as a yummy side dish at your next bbq.
Ingredients
- 3 corn cobs, grilled directly on the grill
- 1 large green tomato
- 1 ripe avocado
- fresh cilantro
- 1 lime
- coarse kosher salt
- fresh cracked pepper
Instructions
- Grill 3 cobs of corn directly on the grill while cooking main dish.
- Dice the green tomato.
- Dice the avocado.
- Squueze the juice of one lime into the bowl with all the ingredients.
- Season with salt and pepper.
Summer Corn Salad
So we have this thing we do all the time at the cottage, and it’s called ‘clear the fridge recipes’. Over the years we have come up with all kinds of yummy options for salads. Whether they be fruit or vegetable, it doesn’t really matter. We just love food!
I keep seeing this meme on Instagram and it pretty much explains how we feel about food. The comments were hilarious. Okay, back to the corn salad recipe.
So as I was saying, we love to make up salad recipes. My daughter sent me this recipe she came up with, knowing I would like it. She knows the diced avocado always gets me. Pretty much sign me up for anything with avocado. But this whole salad was made with salad ingredients we always have in the fridge.
Fresh Summer Ingredients
The best part about making a summer salad is using simple and easily accessible ingredients. After all, most of us probably drive past like 47 million corn fields a day on our way somewhere. There is always good corn on the cob around in the summer.
This salad is made with 5 easy fresh ingredients: grilled corn, green tomatoes, avocado, fresh cilantro, and lime. Roasted corn just tastes like summer to me and is so yummy to throw in a salad. And when something is quick and easy, it’s even better!
I don’t really count salt and pepper as “an ingredient” as I feel it is always important to sample your food and add it to your taste. However, I would say that I only use kosher coarse salt and fresh cracked pepper. These really bring out the natural flavor of fresh veggies.
Tips for Kitchen Success
If you’re not feeling like a Martha Stewart clone, don’t worry. Anyone can make a grilled corn salad like this. Here are a few kitchen tips for success:
Sometimes cutting the corn kernels can be a bit messy. If you don’t want to lose one luscious kernel, you can do this in a large bowl. Use a shorter knife so you don’t cut your fingers off, but simply stand the cob, flatter side, up in the bowl. Hold onto the cob and cut down the corn kernels.
Yes, I’m an avocado freak and I love it. If you like to eat it but not touch it, don’t fret. Remove pit easily by smacking a sharp knife on top of it and lift pit out. Don’t cut off your fingers when you do this. You can then slice through the avocado while it is inside the skin, to create cubes. Lift out with a spoon. Get your lime juice on it quick so it doesn’t brown.
If your lime isn’t as juicy as you would like, first roll it against the counter while pressing down with your hand before cutting into it. Cut it into smaller lime wedges, that can be squeezed easily. Or use this citrus juicer, it really gets all the juice!
If you don’t have a grill or don’t want to get it out to make a salad, two ways to get around this. One, whenever you are grilling corn cobs, make sure you do a bit more. There are so many good recipes that start with leftover grilled corn, which is so much better than frozen corn or canned corn. Two, grab a grill pan and roast your corn on a gas stove over high to medium heat, depending on your stove BTUs.
Variations on Flavor
Since this salad was originally made with a ‘clear the fridge’ type moment, you can make variations based on what you have on hand. Also, how you want to serve it. Let the fresh herbs be your guide. This rendition, having fresh cilantro, can easily be made into a southwest corn salad with your favorite Mexican flavors. Simply add red bell pepper, cotija cheese or queso fresco, and red onion.
Maybe a bit of Mediterranean is more your taste? Add to the sweet corn some crumbled feta cheese, fresh veggies that have been grilled like zucchini and eggplant, grape tomatoes, and a splash of extra virgin olive oil. Lemon juice adds a different flavor than your lime wedges did.
This fresh corn salad can turn into whatever flavor you are craving, as the roast corn is such a good base for a summer salad. I don’t think it needs a salad dressing at all, as the fresh lime juice and other veggies create their own sweet flavor.
Eating With Your Eyes
Not only is the flavor better, but I love the look of corn lightly charred on the grill. It is sooooo July bbq food, you know? That bit of smoky flavor adds to the taste of this easy summer salad. What does your perfect salad look like? Think color, not just flavor. The flavors will come when you cook with what you love.
If you want to see a bit more color, change the green tomatoes to red juicy tomatoes or cherry tomatoes. It’s funny, I never really liked cherry tomatoes before until I grew them in my garden. I bought the plant by mistake and it was a happy accident! They were delicious when home grown!
Not a tomato lover, but want that color? Red pepper will give you that color. And if you really want to rock your world, put red peppers on the grill at your next summer bbq and see how much flavor they add to a salad, on top of a burger or grilled sandwich or in a fresh salsa. I like the flavor of red bell pepper better than green bell pepper. Those taste a bit too basic for me.
As they say, eat the rainbow, and add your favorite veggies to this easy corn salad. Just grill the corn, that is key!
Making Food Look Fabulous
I’m not just saying this as a way to justify all my dish hoarding, but I do think food taste best when presented beautifully. Don’t just serve it in the large mixing bowl or a grill pan that you made it in or used for cooking. Choose something pretty for the table and your other decor.
What to Eat it With
This grilled corn salad works great as a side dish, a salsa served with tortilla chips, or the main dish cuisine when grilled chicken is added. Depending on your taste buds, these additions could turn this summer corn salad into your fave: olive oil, chili powder, apple cider vinegar, onion powder or garlic powder. You can even just add a few tablespoons of your favorite oil-based salad dressing.
A southwest corn salad pairs great with fajitas. Or add grilled shrimp right to the salad, top with cotija cheese and those cherry tomatoes, and you have a seriously low-calorie meal.
Serving as a dip, grab some tortilla chips and enjoy. I’m going to grab a small bowl, add diced avocado (always need extra!), a bit of red onion, and go sit in the corner by myself and eat it all. I do love that sweet corn taste!
Roasted Corn Goodness
I hope you will try this grilled corn salad or a variation that you like to clear your fridge! The main thing is, don’t be afraid to experiment with food flavors and mix different things. You never know what you’ll come up with. Happy eating!
