This recipe was originally posted on my blog over three years ago, when my only readers were either related to me or had gone to school with me. The photography is bad, but the recipe is good!
Markets are selling sweet summer corn, basil and tomatoes, so now is the perfect time to make this refreshing salad.
Sweet Corn, Tomato and Basil Salad
4 ears fresh corn, shucked
6 cups chopped fresh organic tomatoes, about 4 large
1 cup whole basil leaves + 1/4 cup basil chiffonade (thinly sliced)
1 medium shallot, roughly chopped
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup Yuzu rice vinegar* or white balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
In a large , deep pot of boiling water blanch the corn for about 3-4 minutes. Fresh corn does not take long to cook, so do not overcook it. Remove the corn from the boiling water and place into a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking and cool the corn.
Meanwhile, place the chopped tomatoes into a large bowl.
- Chopped tomatoes
Once the corn has cooled, carefully cut the kernels from the corn cobs.
- Cutting corn kernels from cob
Place the kernels into the bowl with the tomatoes while you make the vinaigrette.
In a food processor, place the whole basil leaves, shallot, salt, pepper and yuzu vinegar.
*I used a Yuzu Rice Vinegar, which added a citrus kick to the salad. A Yuzu is a Japanese citrus fruit, whose rind is very aromatic. You do not have to have a yuzu vinegar, as a white balsamic or champagne vinegar would also work very nicely in the dressing.
Process the mixture until it is very smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. Slowly drizzle in the oil while the processor is running, until the vinaigrette becomes thickened and emulsified.
- Basil Vinaigrette and Yuzu vinegar
Pour the vinaigrette over the corn and tomatoes, add the basil chiffonade, and gently mix them together.
- Mixing corn, tomatoes and vinaigrette
This is a salad that should be eaten right away. The flavors really shine when it is fresh, but it good the next day also. The tomatoes will continue to release their juices, so expect any leftovers to be really juicy. I suggest dipping some crusty bread into the juice. Don’t want to be wasteful, do we?
- Corn, Tomato and Basil Salad
