Creamy Corn Salad Jalapeño (Printable)

Sweet corn and crisp veggies with a creamy, tangy dressing spiked with jalapeño heat.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 4 cups fresh corn kernels, 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, seeded and finely chopped
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

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add corn kernels and cook for 2-3 minutes until tender. Drain and cool completely.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled corn, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro.
03 - In a separate small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
04 - Pour dressing over vegetable mixture and toss until evenly coated.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Chill for at least 30 minutes for optimal flavor, or serve immediately.
06 - Garnish with extra cilantro before serving if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in minutes and tastes like you actually planned your life.
  • The jalapeño gives you just enough heat to keep things interesting without setting anyone's mouth on fire.
  • Frozen corn works perfectly, so you're not tied to corn season or farmer's markets.
02 -
  • If you're using fresh corn, don't skip the cooling step—warm corn will wilt everything else and make the dressing break slightly.
  • The dressing thickens as it sits, so if you're making this ahead, you might need a splash of lime juice or a dollop of sour cream to loosen it again before serving.
03 -
  • Taste the dressing before adding it to the vegetables—this is your only chance to adjust the seasoning without making the whole salad salty.
  • If you can't find fresh corn or frozen corn that looks good, canned corn works in a pinch, but drain it really well and give it a quick rinse.
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