Make This Simple Corn Salad Recipe With Red Wine Vinaigrette

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Crunchy Colorful Simple Corn Salad Recipe Is A Winner

If you're looking for a really good corn salad that's a little out of the ordinary, one that stays fresh, travels well, and isn't loaded with mayonnaise, pull up a chair. I think you're going to love this one.

When I began thinking about making a salad with sweet corn, I found that many others had the same idea. However, nothing sounded like what I had in mind, so I experimented.

I wanted a simple corn salad recipe that would be quick and easy, healthy and fresh, and free of mayonnaise and cilantro. Instead, this recipe uses a spunky red wine vinaigrette with garlic, giving it a real flavor boost and making the salad an exceptional keeper.

Basil and chives were absolutely born to marry with corn and beans. It's a delightful flavor profile! What's more, black beans, along with the corn, make it a nutritional powerhouse. I call that a win!

This week, we had this dish alongside grilled burgers one night and grilled hot dogs another. What a great combo both times! This corn salad was voted "Best New Salad" by family and friends!

This corn salad would be a welcome addition to a picnic, including:

• Sloppy Joes
• Grandma-Style Potato Salad
• Apricot Chicken
• Pig Pickin' Cake

How To Make This Simple Corn Salad Recipe

Grab some succulent ears of sweet corn now that the season has begun! Remove the husks and as much silk as possible from the corn, and drop the ears into boiling water for only about four minutes.

Then, put them into cold water to stop the cooking. This process will keep the corn's sweet crunch. When it's cool enough to handle, cut it off the cob and put it in a bowl.

Next, drain and rinse a can of black beans and add them to the corn and the other ingredients. Break up the corn kernels a bit, but leave some in small chunks. Those nuggets are the tastiest bites of this colorful, yummy combination!

Add chopped peppers, onion, chives, and basil. I like to use red peppers for more color and a sweeter taste. We find them easier to digest than green peppers.

Personally, I don't like cilantro, but if you do- feel free to substitute cilantro instead of the basil- I'm sure you'll love it!

Other Easy Variations

Don't fret if you don't have exactly the right amounts of everything or if you need to substitute an ingredient. If you substitute, I suggest staying with crisp vegetables like celery, small zucchini, seeded and chopped cucumbers, or even chopped carrots.

Now shake up the simple red wine vinaigrette and pour it over the corn and bean mixture. Garnish with fresh basil (or your cilantro) and refrigerate. This salad is definitely make-ahead-friendly, will keep for a week or more in the fridge, and the things will stay nice and crunchy.

Tip: You can add some grape tomatoes if you like, but put them on when it's served. They taste great, but remember that they do not refrigerate very well.

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Yield: 10 servings

Sweet Corn Salad With Red Wine Vinaigrette

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This crunchy, colorful salad features fresh sweet corn, black beans, sweet red peppers, onion, garlic, basil, and chives in a tangy red wine vinaigrette.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups fresh sweet corn kernels, about 5 average ears.
• 1  15.5 ounce can plain black beans, drained and rinsed.
• 1/3 cup sweet red pepper, seeded and diced, about 1/2 average-size red pepper.
• 3-4 Tbsp fresh basil chopped fine.
• 1 tbsp fresh chives, cut fine.
• 2 Tbsp sweet onion or red onion, diced fine.
• Grape tomatoes for garnish if desired.

Red Wine Vinaigrette

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• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 2 Tbsp salad oil
• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp seasoned black pepper
• 1 tsp seasoned salt
• 3 Tbsp sugar

Instructions

1. Blanch corn in boiling water for 4 minutes, remove and chill.
2. Cut corn off the cob and put it in a bowl, breaking up the kernels but not completely.
3. Drain and rinse black beans.
4. Seed and dice sweet red pepper.
5. Dice onion finely.
6. Roll up basil leaves and slice thinly into ribbons or chop.
7. Chop chives into very thin pieces.
8. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl.
9. Combine all vinaigrette ingredients in a shaker or jar and mix vigorously until all is well combined.
10. Pour over vegetables and gently stir to mix.
11. Add more salt and pepper to taste and garnish with fresh basil leaves.
12. Garnish with grape tomatoes at the serving time if you wish; remember, they do not refrigerate well.

Corn Salad FAQs

Can I make this corn salad ahead of time?

Yes. This corn salad is a great make-ahead recipe because it does not have mayonnaise. The flavors get even better after a few hours in the refrigerator.

How long will sweet corn salad keep?

Stored covered in the refrigerator, this salad will keep for several days and stay nice and crunchy. Give it a good stir before serving.

Can I use frozen corn?

Yes. Fresh sweet corn is wonderful when it’s in season, but thawed frozen corn will work too. Drain it well before mixing it with the other ingredients.

Can I add cilantro?

Yes. If you love cilantro, you can use it instead of the basil. I prefer basil with this recipe, but cilantro works if that’s your favorite flavor.

We love CORN! Any way you fix it, we're in! After all, we live in Nebraska, "The Cornhusker State!" Here are some more of our favorite corn recipes.

Corn Fritters - Fast, easy, and delicious fritters made from simple pantry ingredients and fresh sweet corn cut off the cob.

Mexican Pasta Salad - Here is a recipe for a wonderful and simple pasta salad that captures all the flavors of elote, Mexican street corn.

Easy Mexican Corn Dip - This corn dip is cool and refreshing. It's a little sweet, a little creamy, a little spicy, and so cheesy! It's great on chips, vegetables, crackers, or Hawaiian bread.

Cowboy Caviar - A fresh and healthy appetizer often served with tortilla chips, it's loaded with vegetables in a tangy marinade.

Whether you’re heading to a potluck, hosting a cookout, or just want a tasty salad that will travel well and hold on the buffet line, this corn salad is a winner!

If you make it, I’d love to hear how it turns out for you. ❤ And I'd love it if you'd leave a comment or a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating, because that helps me make sure my recipes reach the folks who cook like we do!

Love GB (Betty Streff)

Real food. Real kitchen. Real easy.

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