Chili Lime Sweet Corn Salad

Name: Chili Lime Sweet Corn Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 6 ears of corn, husk and silk removed; 2 tablespoons melted butter; 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice; 1/2 teaspoon chili powder; 1 tablespoons chopped cilantro; 1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco*; 1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

June 19, 2014

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Even though I live in a big city (38th largest in the U.S.), it can have kind of small town feel. Now I’ve never actually lived in a small town, so maybe it’s just what I imagine a small town to be like.

For example, if I go to Starbucks, Target, Home Depot or Costco, I am almost 100 percent guaranteed to run into someone I know. Especially if I’m looking extra grungy/greasy, and double especially if my boys dressed themselves, have Greek yogurt crust around their mouths, and look like they slept in a headstand position.

Maybe I always run into people I know because I have lived here since I was four, but for whatever reason, I get that small town vibe.

Chili Lime Sweet Corn Salad in a bowl, with a stack of bowls and a bundle of cilantro in the background.

One time I sat down to get a pedicure, heard the lady next to me talking, and realized it was my 5th grade teacher. And she totally remembered me!

Chili Lime Sweet Corn Salad in a bowl, with a bundle of cilantro and a lime cut in half next to the bowl.

I also get that small town vibe when I can drive 5 minutes north to the edge of the city and buy a bag of freshly picked sweet corn at a little road side stand from the friendly faced, teenage son of the farmer. Their corn has been especially good this season, and the word is getting around, so their little stand is hopping.

I say good for them, you know?

If you are able to get your hands on some especially good corn on the cob, I hope you spare a few ears to make this Chili Lime Sweet Corn Salad. The flavor combo will knock your socks off! Sweet, spicy, tangy, crunchy, creamy- YES PLEASE!

You should’ve seen how fast I devoured this bowl after I finished my photo shoot. Cory loved it too, but the boys like theirs straight off the cob with butter and salt.

When you are buying corn on the cob, try to buy it and cook it the same day. The sugars that are in the kernels will quickly turn to starch after it’s picked, and this makes the corn taste tough, chewy, or gummy.

And here’s a little tip for cutting your corn off the cob without having kernels fly all over your kitchen. If you own a tube or Bundt pan, stand the ear of corn straight up in the center of the pan, and cut the kernels off so they fall right into the pan.

I thought about taking a picture to demonstrate this for you, but it absolutely requires two hands and I’ve not yet made friends with a tripod so you’ll have to just take my word for it. It was one of those rare moments I was alone in the kitchen.

So whether you live in a small town or a big one, or just a big one that can sometimes feel small, go buy some really good corn on the cob and enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?

Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #lovelylittlekitchen

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