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Flavorful Charred Street Corn Salad Bar Recipe with 6 Easy Toppings

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A vibrant and customizable street corn salad featuring charred corn kernels and six delicious toppings, perfect for casual gatherings and quick meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • Fresh corn kernels from 4-5 ears of corn (about 4 cups)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • ½ cup crumbled cotija cheese
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon chipotle powder or adobo sauce
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • Fresh lime wedges from at least 2 limes
  • ¼ cup diced red onion
  • Optional: thinly sliced jalapeño slices (remove seeds for mild)
  • Chili powder for sprinkling
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cut the kernels off the ears of corn, yielding about 4 cups from 4-5 ears.
  2. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons olive oil until hot and shimmering.
  3. Add the corn kernels in a single layer and let sit without stirring for 3-4 minutes until they start to brown and char.
  4. Stir and continue cooking for another 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most kernels have golden black spots.
  5. Sprinkle in 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, salt, and pepper to taste; stir to combine and remove from heat.
  6. Prepare toppings: crumble cotija cheese, mix chipotle powder into mayonnaise, chop cilantro, dice red onion, slice jalapeños, and cut limes into wedges.
  7. Transfer charred corn to a large serving bowl and arrange toppings in separate small bowls around it for a salad bar setup.
  8. Before serving, squeeze fresh lime over the salad and sprinkle chili powder or black pepper as desired.

Notes

Do not overcrowd the pan when charring corn to avoid steaming. Char corn kernels can be prepared up to 2 days in advance and reheated gently. For vegan options, substitute cotija cheese with tofu or roasted pepitas and use vegan mayo. Adjust chipotle powder to taste for desired heat level.

Nutrition

Keywords: street corn salad, charred corn, cotija cheese, chipotle mayo, summer salad, customizable toppings, easy salad, backyard barbecue

Find it online: https://twirltaste.com/flavorful-charred-street-corn-salad-bar-recipe-with-6-easy-toppings/