This vibrant Mexican street corn salad brings the beloved flavors of elotes from the streets of Austin right to your kitchen. Inspired by the fresh, flavorful style championed by home cooking experts like the Pioneer Woman, this recipe is a guaranteed hit for summer gatherings. If you’re a fan of Ree Drummond’s approachable and delicious recipes, you’ll adore this corn salad that perfectly captures the essence of summer sweetness. Like the Pioneer Woman, we believe in simple, high-quality ingredients that create memorable dishes, and this corn salad is no exception.
Mexican Street Corn Salad
For those familiar with the joys of fresh summer corn, you know there’s nothing quite like it. While enjoying corn straight off the cob is a classic summer pleasure, transforming it into a Mexican street corn salad elevates it to an exciting new culinary experience. This recipe, reminiscent of the hearty and flavorful meals you’d find in the Pioneer Woman’s repertoire, is designed to be both easy to make and incredibly satisfying.
Key Ingredients for Your Pioneer Woman Inspired Corn Salad
Elotes, the inspiration behind this dish, are traditionally Mexican grilled corn slathered with creamy mayonnaise, a kick of spice from hot sauce or chili powder, a burst of lime, and salty Cotija cheese. Taking cues from these classic flavors and the Pioneer Woman’s love for bold, accessible recipes, this corn salad features just ten key ingredients, each playing a crucial role in the final taste:
- Grilled Corn: Starting with grilled corn kernels, just like Ree Drummond might do for added flavor, provides a sweet, subtly charred, and juicy base that’s simply irresistible.
- Mayonnaise: A touch of creamy mayonnaise, similar to what the Pioneer Woman might use in her ranch dressing or other creamy recipes, coats the corn, adding richness and binding the salad together.
- Lime Juice and Zest: Lime juice and zest are essential for that signature tangy and zesty flavor, brightening the salad in a way that’s both refreshing and reminiscent of vibrant Pioneer Woman dishes.
- Garlic & Scallions: Just as garlic and onions are foundational in many Pioneer Woman recipes, these ingredients bring sharp, savory accents to the corn salad, adding depth and complexity.
- Cotija Cheese: Salty and tangy Cotija cheese, or feta as a readily available substitute, provides those delightful bursts of flavor, much like the cheese toppings Ree Drummond often incorporates into her Mexican-inspired dishes.
- Fresh Cilantro: A generous handful of fresh cilantro adds a refreshing herbal note, a common element in many fresh and flavorful recipes, including those from the Pioneer Woman.
- Smoked Paprika: Smoked paprika, with its deep smoky flavor, adds an intriguing layer of complexity, mirroring the layers of flavor that the Pioneer Woman often builds into her dishes. Chili powder can also be used for a slightly different, but equally delicious, spice profile.
- Jalapeño: For a touch of heat, a diced jalapeño brings a spicy kick to the salad. For a milder option, consider pickled jalapeños, adding a tangy heat, similar to the pickled peppers often featured in Pioneer Woman’s Tex-Mex cuisine.
- Sea Salt: Finally, sea salt is essential to bring all the flavors together, enhancing each ingredient and creating a balanced and flavorful salad, just as proper seasoning is key to any Pioneer Woman recipe.
Preparing this Mexican street corn salad is straightforward, aligning with the Pioneer Woman’s philosophy of fuss-free cooking. Simply grill the corn until tender and slightly charred. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lime juice and zest, and minced garlic to create the creamy dressing. Cut the grilled corn kernels off the cob and combine them in a large bowl with the chopped scallions, Cotija cheese, fresh cilantro, smoked paprika, and diced jalapeño. Gently fold in the prepared dressing, ensuring all ingredients are well combined. Your Pioneer Woman-inspired corn salad is now ready to enjoy!
Mexican Street Corn Salad Recipe
While this salad is delicious served immediately, chilling it for a short period allows the flavors to meld and deepen, enhancing the overall taste. This make-ahead convenience makes it an ideal side dish for potlucks, barbecues, and picnics, perfectly suited for outdoor gatherings, much like the casual, family-friendly meals the Pioneer Woman is known for.
Serving Suggestions for Your Corn Salad Pioneer Woman Style
This versatile Mexican street corn salad shines as a side dish at any summer cookout. It pairs wonderfully with classic barbecue fare, such as veggie burgers, BBQ sandwiches, black bean burgers, or portobello burgers. Imagine serving this alongside your favorite Pioneer Woman burger recipe for a truly crowd-pleasing meal!
For a Mexican-themed feast, this salad is an excellent addition. Serve it alongside tacos, enchiladas, or fajitas for a complete and vibrant meal. Think of it as the perfect side to complement Ree Drummond’s popular Tex-Mex recipes.
Leftovers of this corn salad are a treasure! Incorporate them into a DIY burrito bowl with cilantro lime rice and your favorite dressing, guacamole, black beans, pico de gallo, and mango or tomatillo salsa. Complete your Pioneer Woman-inspired feast with refreshing margaritas for the adults.
corn salad
Explore More Summer Salad Recipes
If you’ve fallen in love with this Mexican corn salad, take inspiration from the Pioneer Woman’s love for fresh ingredients and explore other delightful summer salad recipes. From pasta salads to fruit salads, the possibilities are endless for creating vibrant and flavorful side dishes that celebrate the best of summer produce.
Mexican Street Corn Salad Recipe – Inspired by Pioneer Woman
Rate this recipe: 4.98 from 167 votes
Serves 4
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This easy Mexican street corn salad, inspired by the approachable cooking style of the Pioneer Woman, is the ultimate summer side dish! Lightly creamy, spicy, and bright, it’s a recipe you’ll want to make again and again for all your summer gatherings.
Equipment
- Grill
- Mixing Bowls
- Whisk
- Knife
- Cutting Board
Ingredients
- 4 ears fresh corn, husked
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
- 1½ tablespoons mayonnaise, or vegan mayo
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Zest and juice of 1 lime
- ⅓ cup chopped scallions
- ¼ cup crumbled Cotija, or feta cheese
- ¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika, or chili powder
- 1 jalapeño pepper, diced*
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Grill the Corn: Preheat your grill to medium heat. Brush the husked corn with olive oil and grill, turning occasionally, until kernels are tender and slightly charred, about 10-15 minutes.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, minced garlic, lime zest, and lime juice until smooth and well combined.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: Once the corn is cool enough to handle, cut the kernels off the cobs. In a large mixing bowl, combine the grilled corn kernels, chopped scallions, crumbled Cotija or feta cheese, chopped fresh cilantro, smoked paprika (or chili powder), and diced jalapeño.
- Dress the Salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the corn mixture. Sprinkle with sea salt. Gently fold all ingredients together until the corn salad is evenly coated with the dressing.
- Serve or Chill: Serve immediately or for best flavor, cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Enjoy!
Notes
*For extra flavor, roast the jalapeño alongside the corn on the grill. To make this recipe vegan, simply omit the cheese or use a vegan cheese alternative.
