August Corn Salad with Herbs and Feta

Maine corn has arrived at market. Hip hip hooray! My kiddos could eat corn on the cob 7 days a week for lunch and dinner. While  tend to agree with this sentiment, I also like to think off the cob and love recipes that present corn in a different and delicious way. This salad is one of my August specialties, I serve it alongside grilled chicken or shrimp. Leftovers make a perfect summer lunch.

Sweet Corn Salad with Fresh Herbs and Feta
Serves 8-10 as a hearty side dish

Ample, August tomatoes, sharp feta and aromatic herbs combine to present summer corn in a whole new way. This salad can be served warm or cold. The corn can be pre-cooked one day ahead of time and refrigerated until needed for the salad.

6 ears corn, shucked
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved (or 2 cups chopped garden tomatoes)
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and finely chopped
1 orange or green bell pepper, finely chopped
1/3 cups finely chopped red onion or shallot
2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh majoram or oregano
2 Tbsp. thinly sliced fresh basil
2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley
3/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 cup crumbled feta, divided

1.  Fill a large pot 3/4 full with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Add 3 ears of corn to the pot and simmer for 4 minutes. Using tongs, transfer corn to a colander and run cold water over the corn to stop the cooking. Repeat with the remaining corn.

2.  While the corn cooks and cools, add the next 9 ingredients (tomatoes through black pepper) to a large bowl and set aside. Use a sharp knife to cut the corn kernels off of each cob. Transfer the kernels to the bowl with other vegetables and toss well.

3.  In a small bowl, whisk together the oil and vinegar. Drizzle the dressing over the vegetables and add 2/3 cup of feta. Toss gently to combine. Garnish the salad with the remaining feta and serve.

Cook’s Note: You can certainly make corn salads with raw corn but blanched corn delivers a better tasting salad. You can also replace the basil with fresh mint for a different flavor profile.