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Fresh Grilled Corn Salad with Cotija

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A smoky, flavorful summer salad featuring fresh grilled corn, tangy cilantro lime dressing, and crumbly cotija cheese. Perfect for BBQs and potlucks, this easy recipe comes together in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 ears fresh corn on the cob, husked
  • ½ cup cotija cheese, crumbled
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 large lime)
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
  • 1 small jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon salt (kosher salt recommended)
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon honey

Instructions

  1. Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat (about 400°F).
  2. Husk the corn and remove all silk threads carefully. Rinse the ears under cold water to clean.
  3. Grill the corn directly on the grates, turning every 2-3 minutes to get even char marks all around, about 10-12 minutes total.
  4. Remove the corn from the grill and let cool for 5 minutes.
  5. Cut the kernels off the cob by standing each ear upright on a cutting board and slicing downward carefully with a sharp knife.
  6. In a large mixing bowl, combine the grilled corn kernels, finely diced red onion, chopped jalapeño (if using), and chopped cilantro.
  7. Whisk together the dressing: fresh lime juice, olive oil, honey, salt, black pepper, and ground cumin until smooth and well blended.
  8. Pour the dressing over the corn mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
  9. Sprinkle the crumbled cotija cheese over the salad and give it one last light toss to distribute the cheese without breaking it down too much.
  10. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Let the salad sit for about 10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.

Notes

Do not skip the resting step after grilling; letting the salad sit allows the lime and honey dressing to soften the onions and infuse the corn with flavor. For a dairy-free version, omit cotija cheese or substitute with toasted pumpkin seeds or nuts. If no grill is available, roast corn under a broiler or use a grill pan indoors.

Nutrition

Keywords: grilled corn salad, cotija cheese, cilantro lime, summer salad, BBQ side dish, easy corn salad, fresh corn recipe

Find it online: https://prismtaste.com/fresh-grilled-corn-salad-with-cotija-easy-recipe-for-summer-parties/