Zesty Summer Corn Salad...Featuring Amaize Sweet Corn

One of my very favorite foods to eat during Summer is in-season corn...to me, corn's crunchy sweetness is the epitome of Summertime eating! I especially love sweet corn, so I was excited to receive samples of Amaize Sweet Corn this week so I could try it and share my thoughts with you! Amaize creators George Crookham and Bruce Hobdey are bringing their sweet white corn to selected cities this Summer, including San Antonio! This rare breed of sweet white corn is grown in limited supply throughout the United States. It is noted for its delicious taste, unique texture and incredible sweetness. I just loved its sweet flavor, so I knew I had to create an incredible Summer side dish that would truly showcase its awesome flavor.

Twenty years in the making, Amaize Sweet Corn has been called “the sweetest corn you’ll ever taste.” In fact, it's said to be sweet enough to eat right off of the stalk. This delicious corn is ideal for BBQs, parties or family gatherings. In addition to tasting great, Amaize Sweet Corn is packed with natural health benefits such as antioxidants, fiber and phytochemicals. Additionally, it is created using traditional, natural breeding methods through hybridization. This means that Amaize Sweet Corn is never genetically modified. I can tell you one thing: this corn is tender and sweet, with a slight crunch when you bite down. We really loved it! I decided to remove my kernels from the cob and use the kernels in a colorful Zesty Summer Corn Salad. 

This salad has many of my favorite Summer flavors in one bowl: sweet corn kernels, vine-ripened tomatoes, fresh mozzarella pearls, a double shot of onion...and a zesty dressing that features lime and olive oil. The flavors all work so well together, but make no mistake. The star of this show is the corn!

Zesty Summer Corn Salad

A Weekend Gourmet Original

Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 2 ears of Amaize Sweet Corn and cook for 3 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool. While the corn cools, prepare the rest of the salad. Make the dressing by combining the following ingredients in a small bowl: 2 tbs. olive oil, the juice of one lime, 1-2 tsp. agave nectar (or honey), 1 tsp. dried chives, 1/2 tsp. cumin, and salt & pepper to taste. Whisk to combine and set aside.

Step 2: When the corn has cooled, use a large knife to carefully remove the kernels from the cob. Add the following ingredients to a mixing bowl: 1 cup small tomatoes cut into bite-sized pieces, 3/4 cup fresh mozzarella pearls, 2 sliced green onions, 1 tbs. finely diced purple onion and the Amaize Sweet Corn kernels. Pour the reserved dressing over the veggies, and give everything a toss to combine. I like to serve this salad chilled, but it's also good at room temperature. [Note: I used small San Marzano tomatoes that were quartered.]

This salad is Summer in a bowl! The zesty dressing has a bit of warmth and sweetness from the addition of agave and cumin, but the freshness of the vegetables really shines through. This versatile salad can be served as a side dish. I also spooned part of it over seared tilapia fillets for a light and healthy Summer dinner. This dish could easily be served with scoop-style tortilla chips for a fun Summer appetizer too! However you serve it...just make sure you give this one a try.

Amaize Sweet Corn is only available for a limited time during the warm summer months and is sold exclusively in select stores in the following markets: San Antonio, Sacramento, Portland, Minneapolis, Buffalo, New Orleans and Toronto. If you live near one of these areas, visit the store locator to find a store near you that sells this Amaize-ing corn. I plan to buy more this week just so I can enjoy it simply, with butter and salt!

Disclosure: I received samples of Amaize Sweet Corn to facilitate this article and recipe feature. All opinions expressed are my own.

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