Aggie's Kitchen

Fresh Corn and Quinoa Salad

Fresh Corn and Quinoa Salad is perfect warm weather food. You’ll love the flavors as a side dish for grilled meals, or on its own as a vegetarian dish.ย This post is sponsored by Sunshine Sweet Corn via Kitchen PLAY.

Fresh Corn and Quinoa Salad is perfect warm weather food. You'll love the flavors as a side dish for grilled meals, or on its own as a vegetarian dish.

I think it’s safe to say that here in the South spring has definitely sprung. Our weather has been delightful, which is a word that has never really exited my mouth before but works perfectly to describe the past month or so here in Florida. It won’t be long, though, before the muggy heat starts to set in so I am going to enjoy every single second of our blue skies and slightly less than normal temperatures and humidity for as long as I possibly can.

With our delightful weather comes what I like to refer to as warm weather eating. I crave light and veggie packed foods this time of year. Salads, grain salads and grilled foods to be more specific. Food that satisfies you but doesn’t leave you feeling too full, food that you can eat plenty of and still feel good about. Food like this Fresh Corn and Quinoa Salad.

Fresh Corn and Quinoa Salad is perfect warm weather food. You'll love the flavors as a side dish for grilled meals, or on its own as a vegetarian dish.

When our local corn display hits our grocery store around this time of year, I get pretty excited. I love hunting for the perfect looking ear of corn, anticipating its sweetness. You just cannot beat good fresh sweet Florida corn – you know it’s good and sweet when you can eat it sliced right off the cob. I like to call it nature’s candy.

Does anyone eat it raw like that, or am I totally weird? I can’t help it, it’s that good.

I used raw corn kernels in this salad but feel free to blanch them first if you prefer. This light quinoa salad is full of flavor, from the sweetness from the corn to the slight kick from the poblano peppers, then perfectly balanced out by a honey lime vinaigrette. You’ll love it alongside some grilled chicken or shrimp or on its own as a vegetarian lunch. However you enjoy it, I think we can all agree it truly is the perfect “warm weather food” we are all craving right now.

Print Recipe

Fresh Corn and Quinoa Salad

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup quinoa, uncooked
  • 2 cups fresh corn kernels (taken off approximately 4 ears of corn)
  • 2 medium poblano peppers, chopped small
  • 1 jalapeno, minced (optional)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • Honey Lime Garlic Vinaigrette (double the vinaigrette recipe for this salad)

Directions:

  1. Cook quinoa according to directions. Once cooled, fluff with a fork and place in large bowl.
  2. Add fresh corn kernels and peppers to quinoa. Combine gently with a fork while adding 3/4 of dressing to it. Serve immediately at room temperature or after chilling in the refrigerator for two hours.

Notes:ย This quinoa salad is so versatile! Optional add ins: fresh jalapeno, cubanelle or red bell pepper, black beans, chopped avocado, cilantro. Can be served as a side dish as is or as a main dish with black beans and avocado for additional protein.

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Love whole grain salads like I do? Check out these 12 Healthy Whole Grain Salad Recipes including farro, quinoa, wheat berries and brown rice!

Put “A Little Sweet In Your Step” and be inspired by plenty of fresh sweet corn recipes from other Kitchen PLAY bloggers, here on Aggie’s Kitchen, Sunshine Sweet Corn as well on my growing Corn Love Pinterest board.

Follow Aggie’s Kitchen’s board Salads on Pinterest.

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27 comments on “Fresh Corn and Quinoa Salad”

  1. We totally eat sweet corn raw when it’s in season!! Not weird at all. Loving all of these flavors!!! <3

  2. This looks fabulous, Aggie. We’re crazy about quinoa … and fresh corn? Yummy!

  3. Quinoa and corn together? Yes, please!!

  4. Love the combination of quinoa + corn Aggie!

  5. This salad is sooooo yummy looking – totally up my alley. LOVE!

  6. OH YES! Fresh corn is delicious raw. This salad looks very refreshing. I’m excited for this weather too!!

  7. This looks like a wonderful light lunch, wish I had it today!

  8. I’m jealous you already have corn in FL!! Raw corn is so sweet and wonderful – I love the flavor almost more than cooked! I bet it gives this quinoa salad a nice pop! Yum!

    • I love it raw off the cob better than cooked too! Which is great for me because I’m a bit lazy these days ๐Ÿ™‚ It’s so sweet!! I hope you get some corn in your area soon!

  9. It looks like a really light and tasty salad. Perfect for these insanely hot days that we have been having in my country. I’ll give it a try.

  10. Looks lovely, Aggie! Love how simple it is! And that bowl…I can’t get over it. It’s time to buy one for myself, I guess. I keep stalking you and your bowl on Instagram.:) Pinned the salad!

    • Simple is so good isn’t it? Ha ha about the bowl…it’s seriously the best. I think you need to treat yourself to one. I am about to treat myself to a different color so everyone doesn’t get sick of seeing it, it is my most used bowl in my kitchen right now ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for stalking and for the pin ๐Ÿ™‚

  11. Thank you for sharing this recipe with us and for the chance to win.
    Please add me to the boad.
    My email is [email protected]
    Pinterest name: neiddy

  12. What a fabulous thing to pair with quinoa! I love this salad, Aggie. Perfect for all the upcoming spring and summer gatherings. I’d love to be added to your group Pinterest board.

  13. This looks so yummy! I would love to be added please. http://www.pinterest.com/mandy375/

  14. This recipe looks great. I would like to be added, thanks!
    http://www.pinterest.com/rounder9834/
    rounder9834 @yahoo.com

  15. That looks delicious! Please add me to the pinterest board so I can pin and enter. Thank you.

  16. I love sweet corn! Please add me to the sweet corn pinterest board. Thank you.

    • Hi Crimson! I am having trouble finding your pinterest board with your email, can you send me your Pinterest name so I can look for it that way? Also, I’m learning that pinterest will allow me to add you as long as we are both following each other, so please make sure you are following all my boards (you are welcome to unfollow once you are added to the board…I won’t be offended ๐Ÿ™‚ ) Thanks so much!!

    • ok…I found you! I just sent invite over! Thanks so much for participating!

  17. I’m going to need you to look away while I devour this whole bowl ; )

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  19. This is so much my kind of salad…LOVE fresh sweet corn and that honey lime vinaigrette!

  20. Oh Aggie… you and me and salads… we’re like THIS. I can’t get over how delicious this sounds!

  21. Pingback: Pinspired: Quinoa Salad with corn & scallions | Lot 256