Description
A smoky, creamy, and spicy summer side dish that is beginner-friendly and takes only 20 minutes to make. This easy grilled corn salad features charred corn, salty cotija cheese, and a zesty Cajun-lime dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 ears of corn, husked and kernels cut off (about 6 cups)
- 1 medium red onion, finely diced
- 1 medium jalapeño, seeded and minced
- 1 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and blanch the whole corn ears for 2 minutes to tenderize them. Remove and let cool slightly.
- Slice the kernels off the cooled corn ears to yield about 6 cups of kernels.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Toss corn kernels with olive oil and grill in a basket or heat-safe bowl for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until charred and tender. Remove from heat.
- In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, minced garlic, and Cajun seasoning to make the dressing.
- In a large bowl, combine the grilled corn, diced red onion, minced jalapeño, and crumbled cotija cheese.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat everything evenly.
- Stir in chopped cilantro and season with black pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately while warm, or refrigerate for an hour to let flavors meld before serving.
Notes
Fresh corn is preferred for the best texture, but thawed and well-drained frozen corn can be used. Cotija cheese is essential for the authentic salty, crumbly texture; feta is a good substitute. For less spicy heat, remove jalapeño seeds. This salad tastes better the next day as flavors meld, but do not freeze as the corn becomes mushy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 24
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 6
Keywords: grilled corn salad, cajun corn, summer side dish, vegetarian recipe, easy barbecue sides, cotija cheese salad, quick recipes