Creamy Corn Salad Jalapeño (Printable Version)

Fresh corn mixed with cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, and jalapeño in a creamy tangy dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 4 cups fresh corn kernels, husked and blanched 2-3 minutes or frozen, thawed
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
04 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
05 - 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
06 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Dressing

07 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
08 - 1/4 cup sour cream
09 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
10 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
11 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
13 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add corn kernels and cook for 2-3 minutes until tender-crisp. Drain in colander and cool completely.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled corn, halved cherry tomatoes, diced red bell pepper, minced red onion, chopped jalapeño, and fresh cilantro.
03 - In a separate small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until smooth and fully incorporated.
04 - Pour dressing over vegetable mixture and toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving, or serve immediately if preferred.
06 - Transfer to serving dish and garnish with additional fresh cilantro if desired. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes, which means you can make it the morning of a party and forget about it until serving time.
  • The jalapeño gives just enough bite to keep things interesting without overwhelming anyone at the table.
  • Fresh corn tastes like summer in a bowl, and the creamy dressing makes it feel a little fancier than it actually is.
02 -
  • Don't skip cooling the corn before mixing it with the other vegetables, because warm corn will start to wilt the cilantro and soften the tomatoes.
  • The dressing gets thicker and more flavorful the longer it sits, so this is one of those rare salads that's actually better the next day.
03 -
  • Buy corn at the farmers market or grocery store the day you plan to use it, and look for kernels that are plump and milky rather than pale or shriveled.
  • If you don't have fresh lime, use fresh lemon juice instead, though the lime gives it a brighter, more summery taste that really makes this salad sing.
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