Tag: fresh corn
Refreshing Recipe: Corn Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
I started making this salad a few years ago. I think it was taken from Michael Chiarello at the food network. I made it for barbecue parties and it was always appreciated by my guests. I recently remembered it while talking to my neighbor who was planning on making it for a July 4th barbecue party. Although the salad is delicious- it is a bit time consuming- especially the dressing.
Later that week, I was making the shrimp rolls and grilled potatoes and I needed to make a salad with the meal. I thought of the corn salad- and came up with an easier recipe. I had the greens and fresh corn in the fridge- so it was just a matter of coming up with the dressing. I used the juice and zest of a lemon, lime and an orange- whisked olive oil, honey with salt and pepper. Very simple yet the flavor was unbelievable- summer in a bite!
The original salad included pecorino cheese, but I decided to eliminate it since I wanted a lighter salad. The cheese does taste really good in the original salad- so by all means, go ahead and add it. I would definitely stick with pecorino- for it’s extra strong flavor.
The salad is great at a barbecue with burgers or ribs but it is also goes very well with a piece of poached chicken or fish. It is a very healthy salad especially because the dressing doesn’t have very much olive oil. Definitely a summer must in your barbecue repertoire…
A Southwestern Side Dish Recipe & Tips for a Stress Free Party: Roasted Poblano Pepper and Corn Salad
This is a very simple side dish to serve at summer barbecues. I made it with the chorizo burgers and chose the poblano peppers for their smoky flavor. The peppers are not very spicy, and once they are roasted and peeled- they are delicious!
I used fresh corn but frozen can be used as well- although in the summer, I would recommend fresh corn! The sour cream adds a nice creaminess to the salad without overpowering it- the subtle sourness goes very well with the sweet corn and the smoky pepper. The salad is extremely healthy- a bit of olive oil and low fat sour cream. I made a lot of it so I could have a little bit of the burger and the oven fries and fill up on the salad.
I like making simple and fast sides that can be done ahead of time. This one can be served room temperature- so it’s perfect. I made it in the afternoon for an evening barbecue. The key to having a successful barbecue or any other get together is getting everything done in advance. In this case I had the burgers ready in the fridge. All the sides were done and placed in a serving platter. I had all the plates, cups, napkins set outside in the afternoon- so I didn’t have to worry about anything once the guests arrived. The dessert was in the fridge and the plate of tortilla chips and guacamole was out. Another important thing to have out is a garbage can on the deck so people don’t have to go inside if they don’t want to. The one thing I do before my guests come- is- make sure my dishwasher is completely empty. It makes a big difference- I don’t have to do any extra hand washing and have plenty of space in the dishwasher. I am a lot more relaxed when my guests come and clean up is a cinch. The last and most important thing- have a few sips of wine before everyone comes- you relax and start having fun before they arrive!