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This esquites-inspired Corn Cucumber Tomato Salad tosses candy corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, and jalapeƱos in a easy lime-agave dressing, supplying you with a refreshing summer season snack or aspect dish in minutes. Vegan and Gluten-Free.
This Corn Cucumber Tomato Salad has every thing you could possibly presumably want on a scorching day: candy, crisp, and refreshing summer season produce tossed in a lightweight and brilliant dressing. Itās tangy, cooling, and somewhat spicy in the easiest way. Carry it with you to the BBQ or make it forward of time for simple meals all week!
Desk of Contents
A Contemporary Tackle Esquites
This Tomato Cucumber Corn Salad could appear like your peculiar vegan corn salad, but it surelyās a lot greater than that! Itās loosely impressed by esquites, a preferred Mexican avenue meals that tosses grilled corn, mayo, lime, chili, and cheese collectively. Fortunate for us, those self same crave-worthy flavors are an ideal match right here!Ā
My tackle this summery snack retains the lime, chili, and (vegan) cheese, but it surely leans lighter and tastes extra refreshing due to juicy tomatoes, crunchy cucumber, and a punchy agave-lime French dressing. I like to consider it as my Tomato Basil Cucumber Saladās spicier, bolder cousin, with peak seasonal produce on the entrance and heart.
I extremely suggest serving it with pita chips or tortilla chips for a chunky salsa-style snack, or convey it with you to the BBQ or potluck! It pairs completely with every thing off the grill.
What You Want for This Dairy-Free Corn Salad
Whereas a lot of the components are proper within the identify, you additionally want a handful of different contemporary components and easy seasonings to spherical out the flavors. Right hereās every thing else youāll want:
- Corn: in the event youāre fortunate sufficient to drive by a roadside corn stand in the summertime, choose up a number of contemporary ears for this salad. Contemporary corn is my private favourite right here as a result of itās normally a lot sweeter and juicier than canned or frozen kernels.
- Tomatoes: use cherry tomatoes for bite-sized bites of sweetness or chop up a number of Roma tomatoes as an alternative.
- Cucumber: a hothouse (English) cucumber is nice right here, or you may go for a Persian cucumber for an additional crunchy texture. No have to peel the cucumbers forward of timeāthe pores and skin is skinny sufficient to eat.Ā
- JalapeƱos: seeds and ribs eliminated to maintain issues flavorful with out an excessive amount of hearth.
- Feta Cheese: youād normally discover feta or Cotija cheese in esquites, however right here, weāre utilizing dairy-free feta to maintain the salad vegan. I like to recommend utilizing a crumbly store-bought vegan feta to imitate the creamy texture and salty chew (home made tofu feta will work, but it surely isnāt the most suitable choice).
- Salad Dressing: this zippy, balanced mix of avocado oil, contemporary lime juice, agave, chili flakes or floor chili powder, and salt ties the entire salad collectively. Contemporary lime juice is admittedly particular right here and helps each chew shine, however go forward and use lemon juice if thatās all you might have available.
The best way to Make a Corn Cucumber Tomato Salad
- Add the salad dressing components to a jar, seal with a lid, and shake till itās emulsified.
- Add the corn, tomatoes, cucumber, inexperienced onion, jalapeƱos, and feta to a big bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to mix.
- Chill the salad within the fridge or serve it instantly. Get pleasure from!
Caitlinās Cooking Ideas
- The best way to safely lower corn kernels off the cob: Begin by peeling the husk, snapping off the stem, and eradicating as a lot of the silk as you may (a fast rub with a dish towel helps). Place a small bowl the other way up inside a bigger bowl. Stand the cob upright on the smaller bowl and punctiliously slice downward with a pointy knife. The bigger bowl will catch all the free kernels.
- No soggy salads allowed! Understand that the tomatoes and cucumbers will launch their juices over time and settle on the backside of the bowl, making your salad soggy. To maintain them agency and crisp somewhat longer, sprinkle a pinch of salt over the chopped cucumbers and tomatoes, set them apart for 10 minutes, and blot away any extra water with paper towels earlier than including them to the bowl.
- Chill the salad earlier than serving. Whilst you can technically serve this salad instantly, it tastes even higher after a fast 15-minute chill within the fridge. The flavors will mingle and style so significantly better! Simply donāt let it sit for much longer, or else the cucumbers and tomatoes will begin to soften.
Serving Strategies
This corn salad is one among my favourite summer season potluck dishes. Whether or not weāre grilling up these Mushroom Veggie Burgers and these Pesto Tofu Sliders, or serving these BBQ Tempeh Tacos and these BBQ Candy Potato Tofu Tacos, I really like pairing the salad with tortilla chips for a chunky, salsa-style starter visitors can munch on earlier than the principle occasion.
Itās additionally a standout aspect dish! Its contemporary, cooling crunch balances savory mains, like these Vegan Stuffed Peppers and these BBQ Jackfruit Sandwiches, so properly.
And within the uncommon case I’ve leftovers, Iāll use them as a topping on fast and nutritious lunch bowls, like these Chipotle Black Bean Burrito Bowls and these Smoky White Bean Bowls with Roasted Greens.
If you happen toāre on the lookout for extra summer season corn recipes, youāll additionally love this Pan-Grilled Corn Salsa, this Grilled Romaine & Charred Corn Salad, and this Summer season Corn Chowder!Ā Ā Ā
The best way to Retailer Leftover Corn SaladĀ
Switch the additional corn salad to an hermetic container and retailer it within the fridge for as much as 4 days. I like to recommend consuming it sooner moderately than later as a result of the veggies will launch moisture and make the salad soggy.
If you happen toād wish to make this salad forward of time, you may chop the greens and make the dressing as much as 1 day prematurely. Retailer every thing individually in hermetic containers within the fridge, then toss all of it collectively simply earlier than serving to maintain issues crisp and vibrant.
Substitutions and Variations
- Grilled Corn Possibility: Strive grilling the corn on the cob till the kernels have flippantly blackened. The smoky, charred notes make the salad really feel additional particular.
- Inexperienced Onion Substitute: Chopped chives or very finely minced crimson onion work simply as properly. Go lighter on crimson onion since it might overpower the opposite flavors.
- Non-compulsory Additional Veggies: Be happy so as to add some bulk to this meal with chopped avocado, diced bell peppers, or a handful of contemporary cilantro. Grilled zucchini or charred poblano peppers would additionally make scrumptious additions.
- Add Protein: Flip this corn salad into a lightweight lunch or dinner by including a can of drained and rinsed black beans, or by topping it with my Crispy Tofu or this Smoky Tempeh.
Recipe FAQs
I personally love this salad with contemporary corn sliced off the cob, however canned or frozen corn kernels additionally work. Keep in mind to empty the juices from the canned corn and to thaw the frozen corn kernels, then dry them properly with paper towels earlier than making the salad.
The jalapeƱos and chili flakes give it a pleasant kick, however the warmth is completely customizable. For a milder model, you may skip the jalapeƱos and/or chili flakes altogether. Or, if you need extra warmth, go away the seeds in your jalapeƱo, swap the jalapeƱo for a spicier serrano pepper, or add cayenne or scorching sauce to the dressing.
I extremely suggest serving this salad chilly as a result of the refreshingly crisp textures of the cucumber and tomatoes donāt maintain up properly to warmth. Both eat it as quickly because itās assembled or after chilling it within the fridge.
Get pleasure from! If you happen to make this recipe and determine to share it on Fb or Instagram, donāt overlook to tag me @FromMyBowl + #FromMyBowl! I’d additionally find it irresistible in the event you might go away a remark beneath with a recipe ranking! Thanks for the assist š
For the Dressing:
- 3 tablespoons avocado oil
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 teaspoon agave
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon floor chili or chili flakes non-compulsory; omit for delicate warmth
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
For the Salad:
- 3 ears corn shucked and kernels faraway from cob
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, lower in half
- 1/2 hothouse cucumber diced
- 3 inexperienced onions ends trimmed and sliced
- 2 jalapeƱos seeds eliminated and finely diced
- 1/3 cup feta cheese; I used dairy-free
- 1/4 chopped basil or cilantro
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Make the Dressing: Add the oil, lime juice, agave, chili flakes (if utilizing), and salt to a small glass jar. Seal properly and shake till emulsified; put aside.
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Mix: Add the corn, tomatoes, cucumber, inexperienced onion, jalapeƱos, and feta to a big bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss till mixed.
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Serve & Retailer: Place within the fridge for quarter-hour to sit back, or serve instantly with chips or as a aspect salad. Retailer any leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
- This corn salad is filled with summer season produce and loosely impressed by esquites, a preferred Mexican salad Refreshing as a aspect salad, or serve with chips for a chunky dip! You possibly can even high it together with your favourite protein for a lightweight lunch or dinner.
