Summer corn salad is one of the best fresh summer salads you can make!
You’ll love it because corn is at peak freshness in summer and makes for a wonderfully sweet and savory combo in a side dish or salad. Plus, corn is inexpensive and full of nutrients in the summer. Fresh corn right off the husk is healthiest, so use fresh when possible.
You can make this with or without the cheese. It’s delicious both ways!
This fresh summer corn salad is made with wholesome and flavorful ingredients like sweet corn, avocado, fresh cilantro, and lime juice, this refreshing salad packs a ton of mouthwatering flavor in every bite. (Find more awesome summer salads here.)
Whether you’re cooking dinner for one or hosting a social gathering, this Summer Corn Salad is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. It’s easy to make, loaded with nutrients, and bursting with flavor.
Summer Corn Salad Ingredients
To make this delicious corn salad, you will need a short list of ingredients. This recipe is super flexible, so leave anything out that doesn’t agree with you:
- Fresh corn: The star of the show! Nothing says summer like fresh corn right off the cobb. My favorite little trick is to slightly char the corn in a sauté pan. Not only does it create a beautiful color contrast, but it also helps to enhance the flavor of the corn. You can also boil the corn or cook it on the grill.
- Red bell pepper: This veggie is loaded with Vitamin C and adds a mild sweetness, a nice crunch, and a beautiful pop of color to the dish.
- Avocado: High in fiber and healthy fats, avocado chunks make this salad extra satisfying and add a delicious creamy component.
- Red onion: I love the sharp yet fresh bite and crunch that red onion adds. If you want something a bit milder, you can swap red onion out for green onions.
- Fresh cilantro: This herb adds a ton of incredible flavor to the salad. Not a fan? Swap it out for fresh parsley, basil, or chives.
- Lime juice: Fresh lime adds acidity, which brightens up the rest of our ingredients and makes them even more flavorful. Fresh lime juice is best—the stuff in a bottle is usually just citric acid with artificial flavors.
- Cotija cheese: This is optional, so feel free to leave it out for a dairy-free and vegan version. However, if you do eat cheese then I highly recommend it because it’s delicious in this dish! Feta cheese crumbles are a great substitute if you don’t have cotija cheese.
Is Corn Healthy?
Corn has gotten somewhat of a bad rap over the years. Because it’s a particularly starchy vegetable, it can spike blood sugar levels and prevent weight loss when consumed in excess. That being said, corn is also incredibly rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. When consumed in moderation, corn is a perfectly healthy addition to your diet and boasts tons of impressive health benefits.
Here are some of the top health benefits of corn:
- Promotes eye health
- Supports a healthy digestive system
- Reduces the risk of heart disease and cancer
- Supports healthy blood pressure
- Contains antioxidants that help prevent oxidative stress
- Reduces inflammation in the body
- Supports healthy weight management
How to Make Corn Salad
This delicious and healthy summer salad comes together in just 3 steps:
- There are two ways you can cook the corn. I prefer to sauté it, but you can also boil it (or cook it on the grill).
- Sauté Method: First cut the kernels off the cob. To take the corn off the cobb, place a small bowl upside down in a larger bowl, then place the corn on the cobb upright on the small bowl as you cut off the kernels and allow the larger bowl to catch the corn. Sauté the corn for 4-5 minutes over medium-high heat in 2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil until its cooked but still crunch and some of it has slightly browned.
- Boil Method: Bring a large pot of water to a boil, remove the husks then add the whole corn and boil for 6-8 minutes. Remove from the water and pat dry. Let the corn cool slightly, then slice the corn off the cob with the small bowl in large bowl method described above.
- While the corn cooks, chop the veggies, avocado and cilantro, then set aside.
- In the large bowl, add the bell pepper, red onion, cilantro, and avocado. Add lime juice, salt, and cotija cheese, then toss to combine. Garnish with lime wedges and enjoy!
Here’s the full recipe, and don’t miss the fun facts and FAQs below the recipe card:
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Summer Corn Salad
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Boil, Chop
- Cuisine: American
Description
This summer corn salad recipe is a staple in our summer eating plans. It’s best with fresh corn, so grab some in the summer when it’s super fresh and at a great price. This corn salad recipe is flexible, so leave out anything you don’t like. If you love it, please leave a star review in the comments below for other readers in our community.
Ingredients
- 3 ears of sweet corn, or about 3 cups
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/3 cup minced red onion
- 1/4 cup cilantro, roughly chopped
- 1 avocado, cubed
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup Cotija cheese crumbles, for topping (omit if dairy-free)
Instructions
- Cook the corn by either sautéing it or boiling it:
- Sauté Method: First cut the kernels off the cob. To take the corn off the cobb, place a small bowl upside down in a larger bowl, then place the corn on the cobb upright on the small bowl as you cut off the kernels and allow the larger bowl to catch the corn. Sauté the corn for 4-5 minutes over medium-high heat in 2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil until its cooked but still crunch and some of it has slightly browned.
- Boil Method: Bring a large pot of water to a boil, remove the husks then add the whole corn and boil for 6-8 minutes. Remove from the water and pat dry. Let the corn cool slightly, then slice the corn off the cob with the small bowl in large bowl method described above.
- While the corn cooks, chop the veggies, avocado and cilantro, then set aside.
- In the large bowl, add the bell pepper, red onion, cilantro, and avocado. Add lime juice, salt, and cotija cheese, then toss to combine. Garnish with lime wedges and enjoy!
Notes
- Make this dairy-free by leaving out the cheese.
- Substitute the red onion for green onion, if desired. You can also substitute the cotija cheese for feta cheese if desired.
- Frozen corn can work in a pinch here, but I honestly would just make something else. It’s your choice! 🙂
Corn Salad Tips and Tricks
Here are some of my favorite tips and tricks to help you make this dish:
- If you can’t find cotija cheese or simply want to switch it up, try using feta cheese or goat cheese instead.
- For an even more filling salad that can serve as a complete meal, try adding black beans or quinoa.
- If corn isn’t in season, feel free to use canned or frozen corn instead.
- Looking to use up some more veggies you have at home? Feel free to toss them in! You can add cucumbers, tomatoes, green onions, arugula, or anything else you have on hand that you think would work.
- Looking to bulk up this dish with some protein? Try adding grilled meat like chicken breast, lean steak, salmon, or shrimp.
- For a dairy-free and vegan salad, simply leave out the cotija cheese or swap it out for your favorite dairy-free alternative.
- If you don’t have cilantro or want to swap it out for a different fresh herb, try using parsley, basil, or chives.
- If you have extra time to spare, make the salad an hour ahead of time and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to eat. This gives the flavors some time to really come together and makes the salad even more delicious.
What to Serve With Summer Corn Salad
This easy corn salad is incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. You can use it to top your tacos, dip your chips in it like a chunky salsa, or serve it as a healthy side dish alongside the main course of your choice. I love pairing this dish with some of my other summertime favorites. Not sure what to pair with corn salad? Here are some of my top choices:
- Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
- Secretly Healthy Deviled Eggs
- Layered Ratatouille
- Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
- Spicy Black Bean Tacos
- Herby No-Mayo Potato Salad
- Oven-Baked Chicken Breast
How to Store This Dish
This salad keeps really well, so it’s great for meal prepping. I like to make a big batch that I can enjoy over the next few days and I’m convinced that it’s even better the next day! To store this dish, simply transfer it to an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. The avocado may start to brown, but it will still taste delicious. After a few days in the fridge, you can give the salad a little refresher by squeezing some more lime juice over it.
Fun Facts About Corn
What exactly is corn? Is it a vegetable or a grain? Trick question… It’s both! This unique food has been a staple ingredient in cuisine all over the world for thousands of years, dating back to southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. It’s well-known that corn is one of the most important crops in the world, but there’s quite a bit about the veggie that you probably don’t know! Here are some of my favorite fun facts about corn:
- An ear of corn has, on average, 800 kernels laid out in 16 rows.
- While the number of rows in an ear of corn may vary, it will always be an even number.
- Corn products have over 3,500 different uses.
- Corn and its byproducts are often found in many non-food items, including soap, glue, aspirin, makeup, and laundry detergent.
- The United States is the largest producer of corn in the world.
- Corn is not always yellow! It can be produced in a variety of colors, including white, green, red, purple, blue, and black.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about this healthy summer dish:
What does corn salad go with?
Just about anything! You can use corn salad as a chunky salsa to dip your chips in, use it to stuff your tacos, or serve it as a side dish with other summer-inspired dishes like grilled meats, cooked veggies, burgers, hot dogs, and sandwiches.
Can you freeze corn salad?
Because of the high water content in many of the salad ingredients, I wouldn’t recommend attempting to freeze this dish. There’s a good chance that, once thawed, the salad will wind up being a pile of mush.
What can I use instead of cilantro?
If you aren’t a fan of cilantro, you can easily swap it out for another fresh herb like parsley, basil, or chives. I wouldn’t recommend using dried herbs in this recipe in place of fresh ones, because we want to focus on incorporating bright, fresh flavors.
Can I use frozen corn instead of fresh corn?
You can swap it out for frozen corn or canned corn in a pinch. Personally, I only like this salad with fresh corn. Frozen corn is good in soups but doesn’t have the same fresh flavor. Canned corn often has additives so I don’t use it. All in all, use what works best for you.
More Healthy Summer Recipes
Looking for more healthy recipes to kick off the summer? Try these next:
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