This Mexican Corn Quinoa Salad is a festive warm weather salad, perfect for a crowd. I love fresh corn, and although I enjoy it on the cob, I find it makes a great side dish when used in salads.
I think warm weather is finally here to stay, so I have been trying to take long walks outside, and visiting our local farmer’s market as much as possible.
I made this Mexican Corn Quinoa Salad for a large gathering of women for one of our Bible study celebrations. I’m always trying to concoct something new for this group of ladies, while keeping it on the healthier side.
The idea behind this salad comes from the Mexican street food called Esquites, which is served in little cups. It’s a mixture of boiled or sautéed corn, mayonnaise, Cojita cheese, cilantro and chili powder. Sometimes jalapeño peppers are added too. What I love about Esquites is the combination of sweet (from the corn), spicy (chili powder), and salty (Cojita cheese).
I find pan roasting the corn brings out the natural sugars and makes it taste even sweeter.
Let’s talk a little about the health benefits of corn – whole corn that is, not processed. I have to be honest – for years, I didn’t consider corn a healthy vegetable. It wasn’t until I picked up a copy of The World’s Healthiest Foods a few years ago, that I started paying more attention to the unique nutritional profile that different fruits and vegetables have.
Here are a couple of fun facts about corn you might be interested in:
- Corn is high in both soluble and insoluble fiber. We need both kinds of fiber in our diets. Dietary fiber helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and may lower our risk of heart disease.
- Corn contains two important carotenoids (lutein and zeaxanthin), which are relatives of vitamin A that support eye health and may have other disease-preventing properties.
- Corn is a good source of B vitamins (folate, B1, B3, B5, B6) which are essential for energy production and making red blood cells
The important thing to remember here is to eat corn in its whole form.
Mexican Corn Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 3 cups corn
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 4 cups cooked quinoa
- 2 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans
- 1 cup cojita cheese feta or romano cheese would also work, crumbled
- 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro minced
- 3 tablespoons scallions minced
- 2 limes juiced
- 1 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- a few dashes of cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- sea salt to taste
- fresh ground pepper to taste
Instructions
-
Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Saute corn and garlic until corn has some brown spots (that's the caramelization that makes the corn even sweeter). Transfer to a large bowl and toss in the rest of the ingredients. Season to your liking with additional chili powder, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper.
Recipe Notes
Cut recipe in half for a smaller group.
If you like this recipe, you might like:
Chipotle Black Bean Corn Tomato Avocado Salad
Corn Tomato Avocado Salsa Salad
Mexican Corn Tomato Feta Salad
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by Kitchen PLAY in partnership with the Florida Sweet Corn Exchange for their “Put a Little Sweet in Your Step” event.
sara says
Yum! This looks totally fabulous! 🙂 I would love to join the pin party, and my pinterest name is cupcakemufin.
Jeanette says
Thanks Sara – just sent you an invite to pin to our Sweet Corn Love board. Thanks for participating – can’t wait to see what you pin!
Jeanette says
Hi Sara – just sent you an email to invite you to our Pinterest pin party. Thanks and happy pinning!
Cathy S. says
Please add me to your pin party. Pinterest name is themrsschiffman.
Jeanette says
Cathy – I just sent you an invite to the Pinterest board. Look forward to seeing your corn pin!
Jeanette says
Hi Cathy – just sent you an email to invite you to our Pinterest Board. Happy pinning!
Christine from Cook the Story says
This looks beautiful and sounds delicious!
Jeanette says
Thanks so much Christine!
whatjessicabakednext says
I love these big, fresh salads full of so many fusions and flavours!
Jeanette says
Thanks! Me too!
Margot C says
Marvelous, please invite me to your pin board. I assume that I should take a picture of what I make (sort of a duh question I guess) and put it on your board. Ok, we LOVE corn!
Jeanette says
Hi Margot – I just sent you an invite to the Sweet Corn Pinterest Board. You can pin a picture of a corn recipe you make or pin any other fresh corn recipes to the board. Thanks for playing!
Margot C says
Hi Jeanette, thanks for the invitation, For some reason when I click on it it just takes me to a Pinterest log-in page (even though I’m already logged in), it hiccups then takes me to the main Pinterest page. This all happens really fast. When I found your corn board by searching I found that I was not on the list of participants. Maybe it’s a Mac thing, but it doesn’t work for me.
Jeanette says
Hi Margot, I think you have to follow all my boards to join my group board. Let me know if you are still having trouble after you do that. Thanks for letting me know.
Jeanette says
Hi Margot, I think we’ve got a solution – just sent you an email. Hope that works. Thanks!
Alicia K says
i want to participate! pixystik4u at gmail dot com
Jeanette says
Great! Just sent you an invite to the board Alicia. Happy sweet corn pinning!
Jeanette says
Hi Alicia, just sent you an email to invite you to our Sweet Corn Pinterest Board. Happy pinning!
EA-The Spicy RD says
Great salad Jeanette! My kids love corn, and I think this would be a winner in our house. I’ll be cheering along with you at baseball games this spring 🙂
Jeanette says
Thanks EA – quinoa and corn go together so well. Have fun with baseball this Spring!
Chris says
Wow! I am a HUGE fan of Quinoa. As many times as I have made it, I have not used this combo of flavors. Can wait to try!
Jeanette says
Thanks Chris – hope you enjoy this recipe!
Jessie C. says
I would like to be part of the Pin Party
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
Jeanette says
Hi Jessie, just sent you an email to invite you to pin to our Sweet Corn board. Happy pinning!
cheri says
What a fantastic salad, great combination of flavors. love that you used quinoa in this.
Jeanette says
Thanks Cheri – this is a fun salad – great for a party!
alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
I just had this similar idea, but now I have the recipe too for summer! Thanks!
Teri K says
I’d love an invite to your board. Corn is one of my favorite veggies!
Jeanette says
Hi Teri,
Just sent you an email with invitation information.
Thanks and happy pinning!
Jeanette
Jeanette says
Hi Teri, just sent you an email to invite you to pin to our Sweet Corn board on Pinterest. Happy pinning!
Pam says
Great combination of flavors & textures – it looks terrific.
Shaina says
So bright and sunshiney. I love this salad!
Terra says
I just pinned a few of your quinoa recipes, love all the different ways to enjoy quinoa!!! This salad would be perfect for my lunches, hearty, full of nutrients, and holy cats delicious! Hugs, Terra
Jeanette says
Thanks Terra – hope you’re doing well!
Kristin says
Yummy! Mexican is my favourite and I’m always looking for new ways to make quinoa since it’s so good for you!
The Cheap Chef
Toni says
This looks great! I think we are going to try it for dinner tonight. I’ve been looking for a good recipe to get us to like quinoa. Hopefully this is it!
Pinterest name is Roxygirli05 🙂
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says
Gorgeous salad, Jeanette! Love, love, love. Thank you for sharing. Pinning (of course)!
Jeanette says
Thanks so much Stacy!
Pam Gurganus says
I LOVE corn and I’d like to be part of the pin party! Thank you! 🙂 pam_gurganus@yahoo.com
Jeanette says
Hi Pam,
Just sent you an email with invite info.
Thanks,
Jeanette
Jeanette says
Hi Pam – I just sent you an invitation to our Sweet Corn Pinterest Board. Happy pinning!
Kelli B says
I printed this recipe out yesterday and plan to make it soon! Thanks Jeannette!
Jeanette says
Kelli – hope you enjoy this!
Kelli B says
I made it last night and LOVED it! I didn’t realize that I was out of cayenne pepper so I substituted it with some chipotle powder and it turned out well! Thanks Jeanette!
Jeanette says
Kelli so glad you tried this and loved it! Thanks for letting me know. Chipotle sounds excellent – nice and smoky!
Lisa Brown says
i would love to be able to pin, send me an invite, please 🙂
jslbrown2009(at)aol(dot)com
Jeanette says
Hi Lisa, just sent you an email with an invitation to join our Sweet Corn Board. Happy pinning!
Neiddy says
Thank you for the chance to win and for sharing this recipe with us.
Please add me to the board, my email is neiddyruiz@gmail.com
Jeanette says
Hi Neiddy, I just sent you an email inviting you to our Sweet Corn Pinterest board. Happy pinning!
Toni says
Sorry forgot the @ part!
Roxygirli05@gmail.com
Jeanette says
Toni – sent you an invite – happy pinning!
Teri K says
Hi Jeanette,
Thank you for the invite. I’m loving the corn board.
Teri
Amanda Sakovitz says
This looks yummy! please add me, thank you!
pokergrl8 at gmail.com
Jeanette says
Hi Amanda – I sent you an email – need your Pinterest name in order to add you to the board.
Thomas Murphy says
This recipe looks great. I would like to be added, thanks!
http://www.pinterest.com/rounder9834/
rounder9834 @yahoo.com
Jeanette says
Thomas, I just sent you an invite through Pinterest. Looking forward to your Sweet Corn pins.
Carolsue says
I’d like to take part.
Pinterest: @Cezovski9
Digicats@sbcglobal.net
MaryB says
Would love to join the pin party. pinterest.com/okieinwa jodoobers@ gmail.com
Jeanette says
Mary – I just invited you to the board. Happy pinning!
Karen D says
Email is same as here, user name is karengdel
Jeanette says
Karen, I just invited you to the board. Happy pinning!
Christine Mayfield says
I would like to be a part of the pin party. My pinterest name is BeeBubbaBella
Jeanette says
Christine, I just invited you to the board. Happy pinning!
Carolsue says
Why did you invite everybody but me?
Jeanette says
Hi Carolsue, so sorry it was an oversight. Please check your email – just sent you instructions. Happy pinning!
Toni says
We made this and loved it! Finally enjoyed quinoa. We did add chicken and ate it over squash (to meet our dietary needs).
With make quinoa again and look forward to trying more recipes on your 🙂
Jeanette says
Toni – so glad you enjoyed this – great additions! Looking forward to hearing what you make next.
Caz says
Hi! Just a quick question. Is this a cold salad or warm?
Jeanette says
Caz – I served this salad room temperature, but it would good warm or cold.
Jodee Weiland says
This dish looks so delicious and healthy! I love the ingredients and the flavors brought together here…thanks for sharing your recipe!
J.A. Garland says
I’m trying this out today for a family birthday party. It looks sooo yummy!
Jeanette says
I hope you all enjoy this today – thanks so much for trying it for your family celebration!
sippitysup says
Sorry to miss the party but I’d be happy for a helping of salad! GREG
Jeanette says
Thanks Greg 🙂
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
We’ve been doing the same thing here for the summer. . farmer’s market and playing around outside. I LOVE this Mexican spin on quinoa salad! and it looks amazing!!!!
marie johson says
Mexican Street Corn Quinoa is a great way to jazz up quinoa! Love this easy recipe <3