Summer Corn Salad

Fresh Summer Corn Salad is an easy and delicious summer side dish made with 4 ingredients:  fresh corn, tomatoes, parsley,  and spices (preferably pink peppercorns, salt and pepper). But, the quality of the salad greatly depends on the quality of the ingredients:  fresh corn, sweet cherry tomatoes, and fresh flat leaf parsley.

Fresh corn on the cob is abundant in August so finding good quality corn shouldn’t be a problem. Look for bright green moist husks.

Peel down the husk to make sure the kernels are not withered or darkened. Generally, smaller kernels are sweeter than larger ones; white kernels are the sweetest followed by the white/yellow mixed ears.The secret to cooking fresh corn on the cob is to not overcook the ears (a sure sign of overcooked corn is a dented or wrinkled kernel appearance). Fresh corn on the cob should be firm, slightly sweet and crunchy; not mushy, mealy, or tough, especially if the kernels are going to be cut off the cob to make a summer corn salad.

Summer Corn Salad (serves 6-10)

Ingredients:

• 12 ears of very fresh corn
• 2 pints of sweet cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup of fresh chopped flat leaf parsley
• 1/4 cup pink peppercorns (I used Hoosier Farms Pink Peppercorns, available on Amazon)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

While waiting for the water to boil, husk the corn.

Drop 6 ears of corn into the boiling water and cook for 1 minute. Remove the ears and allow to drain on a paper towel.

Repeat with the next 6 ears of corn.

Allow the corn to cool for about 10 minutes.

Using a knife, cut the kernels off the ears of corn into a large bowl.

Chop the cherry tomatoes into quarters.

Add the tomatoes and parsley to the corn. Gently toss the salad.

Sprinkle the pink peppercorns over the top. (Note:  Pink peppercorns add so much flavor to this dish. Although the name implies this spice is a member of the pepper family, these soft, almost hollow like tiny dried fruits are from a plant in the cashew family. Pink peppercorns are slightly sweet with a light peppery flavor (hence, their name).

Salt and pepper to taste.

Serve.