This Mexican Corn Salad is a terrific way to use corn for a side dish! Inspired by the popular Mexican street corn Esquites, golden brown corn kernels are lightly dressed with mayonnaise and sour cream, then given a burst of freshness with red onion, coriander/cilantro, lime and a hint of zing from Jalapeño.
My secret ingredient in this is parmesan cheese – it adds that extra something that makes this Can’t-Stop-Eating-It delicious!! (Direct quote from friend ☺️)
I wasn’t planning to publish this recipe for a few weeks but I’ve got not one but two friends waiting for the recipe. So I decided to bring it forward!
I think corn is one of the most underused ingredients here in Australia. Corn and corn products seem to be much more widely used in the US, in all sorts of ways that aren’t so common in Australia. Corn casserole, corn bread, tamale pie, all sorts of corn salads, homemade creamed corn (I don’t know a single person who knows or would be interested in knowing how to make this!), corn chowder(s).
For Aussies, I think the “go to” way with corn is to throw it on the BBQ or steam it and slather with butter. And there is nothing wrong with that – believe me, I’ll chow down a whole corn on the cob and be as happy as a pig in mud (probably look a bit like one too!).
So I was keen to share this Mexican Corn Salad because I think it’s a fantastic way to serve corn as a side that’s quite quick to prepare.
Though this recipe works great with frozen corn, if corn is in season (which it is here in Australia!), I really urge you to take 3 minutes to use fresh corn kernels. Plus, I even have a nifty tip for how to do this without the kernels flying everywhere – just use an inverted ramekin or something of similar shape/size inside a bowl and voila! The corn magically falls straight into the bowl instead of scattering all over the kitchen bench!
Oh – and you can see my Baby Hands in action doing this in the video below the recipe. No laughing. ????? (Seriously, cheeky friends address me this way in text messages! SO RUDE!!!)
I made a couple of giant batches of this Mexican Corn Salad because I bought two lots of corn accidentally.
Wait, that’s not true. I couldn’t resist a bargain, ok? That’s actually what happened. 4 for $2 at Harris Farms!
So I made this Mexican Corn Salad twice in the space of a few days and shared it with friends. And I was pretty pleased with the enthusiastic response! To say they loved it would be an understatement. It was an actual situation where you had to eat fast, or miss out. Literally. You snooze, you lose.
And they’ve both asked me for this recipe more than once. 🙂
There’s nothing tricky about this recipe. It’s a salad version of Esquites, the popular cups of corn you get on the streets of Mexico. Sautéed in butter and served with varying combinations of mayonnaise, lime, sometimes spices, cotija cheese (it’s a Mexican cheese that crumbles like feta but it’s not as salty), coriander/cilantro, I could have happily had one for lunch every day if it weren’t for the dizzying list of other street foods I wanted to try in Mexico.
Because this is a giant side salad version of Esquites, I’ve added freshness with some red onion and shallots/scallsions. It makes it less rich and more suited to be a side salad – in my opinion. ☺️
Though inspired by a Mexican dish, it’s definitely not specifically “Mexican” flavoured. I’d happily serve this as a side for almost any non-Asian meal.
Just think of it as a great side.
Or a great meal. Really. Try it. And tell me if you’re tempted to have a giant bowl of just this for dinner! – Nagi x
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Mexican Corn Salad
Ingredients
- 4 whole corn on the cob (or 5 cups frozen corn, not thawed)
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 2-3 tbsp mayonnaise (I use 2 tbsp)
- 3 tbsp sour cream (or yoghurt)
- 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese (Note 1)
- 1 tbsp Jalapeno, deseeded and finely chopped
- 1 cup coriander / cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
- 1 cup shallots / scallions, green and pale green parts, finely sliced
- 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
- Juice of 1/2 to 1 lime (adjust to taste)
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- Cotija or Feta, to crumble (optional) (Note 2)
Instructions
- Cut the corn off the cob (see video for how I do this without getting corn everywhere!) If using frozen, do not thaw.
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a skillet over high heat. Add half the corn and shake to spread it out. Cook, stirring / tossing occasionally, for 3 minutes (4 minutes for frozen corn) or until you get nice charred bits on both sides and the corn is just cooked (it cooks more with residual heat). Avoid stirring too often so you get nice brown bits.
- Transfer into a bowl. Add remaining oil in the fry pan and cook the remaining corn, then add it into the bowl.
- Add mayonnaise, sour cream and parmesan. Stir to combine. Add remaining ingredients. Adjust lime juice and salt to taste. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Mexican Corn Salad recipe video! (Useful tip: how to cut kernels off cobs without them flying everywhere!)
LIFE OF DOZER
Whenever I take a photo of Dozer running, all I can think is that there’s a lot of flapping. Ears, giant tongue, mouth flap, that feathered tail.
I know how he feels. I have quite a bit of flappage when I run too….. ?
Thank you! I’ve make this recipe a handful of times now and it’s a hit every time!
Awesome Veronica, that’s great to hear!!
So good! I made this tonight for a large group. Everyone loved it. The cotija cheese made it perfect. I was going to use feta because we always have ton of it, but the slightly different flavor and texture was 👌.
Wahoo! That’s great Jen!!!
I’m hoping to make this for a birthday party. Can it be made ahead of time? Have you had any luck with that?
Hi Amber, you can definitely make it in advance as leftovers keep well too. I’d stop at step 3 and then proceed to do the last steps just before you want to serve ☺️
made this for work for our Taco Thursday… big hit.
Wahoo, great to hear Cathythy ☺️
This looks amazing. If made beforehand could this dish be are cold? Or is it best served hot?
It would be fine cold Carolyn ☺️
Yummmm! Awesome recipe. Had a mexican night so tried out the Mexican Shredded Chicken, Pico de Gallo (Authentic Mexican Salsa), One Pot Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole, Quesadilla and avocado sauce….. UGHHHHH! Tonight is a good night!!! Thanks for the recipes. We all love what you do xx
Woot! Fabulous Suna!
This is the best salad, so good I am doing it on Christmas Day!!! Yum
This was awesome. My son does not care for cilantro (as in he can’t stand it in anything). Any suggestions for a substitution? Maybe just parsley?
Parsley or chives! N x
Got tons of compliments when I took this for a potluck dinner. Thank you for the awesome recipe.
That’s terrific to hear Ava! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review – N x
Absolutely delicious. Took to a potluck today and I got so many compliments, and several requests for the recipe.
Tangy, fresh, light, easy to make. Yummy!
Thank you for a wonderful recipe.
That’s fantastic to hear Michelle! Thank you for letting me know – N xx
This was really good! while i was making it my hubby was lurking in the kitchen sneaking little tastes and proclaiming it “amazing”. I made this for a potluck at work and it was a big hit. we also want to try some variations — we think it would be awesome with bacon (i mean, what isn’t better with bacon????), bell pepper, taco seasoning or barbecue seasoning. I’m looking forward to trying them.
Yes yes YES to the variations!!! Load it up! N xx
This was fantastic – But the Cotija cheese was absolutely critical! It has a sweetness unlike feta or parmesan and really made the dish. I added a finely chopped red and orange pepper just for color. Wonderful!
I WISH we could get it here! 😂
I’m planning on making this for a 40th Mexican fiesta. What mayonnaise do you use? Thanks 😀
Absolutely delicious!
I’m so pleased to hear you enjoyed this Angie! Thanks for letting me know! N xx
WOAH. Can’t wait to try this soon! I love corn
1. in your notes you mention that cheese is OPTIONAL ?!?!?. cheese is a must, so I’m not making this until I find cotija (or cave in and just use feta:) )
2. DOZEEERRRRR <3
Do you think some zest from the lime would be nice in this? I love the pop of freshness zest brings to things, so I try to use it where I can.
Hi Martina! Absolutely add lime zest if you want!!! Regarding the cheese, the PARMESAN is definitely not optional! Only the feta is optional 🙂 As for Dozer? You just hit my sweet spot. ❤️
I made this tonight with crispy fish and served it all in soft shell tacos (I don’t care it isn’t taco Tuesday…tacos are for every day 😉 )
It was soooooo good. I didn’t have any mayo (well I did but it was some dill and caper mayo that I made for a fish dish and I wasn’t sure it would work here) so I just used a bit more sour cream.
SO perfect with the crispy fish!!!!!! And everything is better in taco right?!?!?!!
YUM xx
Oooh….I want to come and be your neighbour! ?