If your summer season is anything like mine, it includes what feels like an endless amount of get-togethers and picnics. Weekends are for getting out and exploring. This roasted corn salad has made it's way to quite a few events this summer in a few different variations. It's easily assembled, tossed in a container, and dressed right before serving. Plus, my favorite part: the lightly fried pepitas. They add the perfect crunch in place of where I might traditionally use croutons. Don't want to turn on your oven? Grill the corn on the cob with the spices and use a grill pan for the tomatoes and onion.
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A seasonal sweet corn salad featuring smoky roasted sweet corn paired with peppery arugula and an easy lemon dressing.
Tips & Tricks: I prefer the greens to be secondary to the corn mixture, so I only added a minimum amount. If you prefer this to be heavier on the greens, add more as you like.
To toast the pepitas, add a small amount (1 teaspoon or so) of olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add pepitas and cook, shaking the pan often, until most the pepitas are golden.
Stock up: get the pantry ingredients you will need: Sweet corn, peptias, arugula
Nutrition: see the information.
The key to this salad is the corn mixture that is lightly spiced. In my mind, it's the perfect way to highlight fresh sweet corn with a few other summer favorites. Also, while there are many tricks to removing the kernel from the cob, I prefer to cut straight down on to the sheet pan (as seen in the video!)
Greens: I love the flavor spicy arugula adds to this dish but I've also served it with spinach and kale. Feel free to use whatever you have on hand or is fresh at the market.
Peppers: Instead of tomatoes, slice sweet red peppers and roast with the corn. My favorite variety is the sweet Jimmy Nardello!
Grains: A couple times I've made this I added quinoa or pearl couscous to add a bit of bulk to the salad. While this corn salad doesn't need a grain, it can help add heft and serve a few more people!
July is all about sweet corn for me. It was a staple in my house during the hot summer months and while we traditionally boiled it and served it with a slab of butter, I learned to love this summer treat. Nowadays, it's all about showcasing the sweet flavor in savory dishes. A few of my favorite recipes:
Sweet Corn Pasta with Goat Cheese Sauce
Sun-Dried Tomato and Sweet Corn Risotto
Corn Cakes with Zucchini Salsa
See all the sweet corn recipes >
Looks like a five-star recipe to me - definitely trying this one out =) Thanks for sharing this recipe.
This combination sounds delicious together! Totally something I want to try!
This looks delicious. I will definely be making this.
This salad looks absolutely wonderful! The mixture of cilantro and arugula is unusual and I can't wait to try it! This summer I want to grow salad greens like cilantro and arugula. It's wonderful to grow you own vegetables and herbs as they can be grown organically without sprays! Makes the DIY salad so much more rewarding!
Yummy recipe, this is looking so delicious.I love to eat salads.. and will try this weekend.
Made this tonight for dinner - it was absolutely delicious! Sweet corn, smoky rub, tangy vinaigrette. Thanks for a great recipe!!
Made this tonight, absolutely delicious! I added avocado which makes everything better. Great dish.