“I got that Summertime, Summertime Sadness…” I love me some Lana Del Rey and she puts it so well, doesn’t she? It’s that time of year again, where many of you are feeling sad as the summer fun is winding down. At this point, you probably know that I do not suffer from summertime sadness at all. Bring on the cooler weather! Anyway, I have a glimmer of hope for those of you hoping to stretch summer just a little longer. Corn. Let me explain along with a quick shout out…
I’ve been LOVING Zallie’s ShopRite in Glassboro, NJ, especially their produce department. As a personal chef, I’m always looking for the best quality foods, and ShopRite has been nailing it! Michael, an employee in the produce section, is very knowledgeable about fruits and vegetables. We were talking recently and he mentioned most people don’t realize that September is actually the best month to eat corn, because that’s when it’s the sweetest. So, with September just a few days away, I thought it would be the perfect time to share an easy and delicious corn recipe. Now dry your end of the summer tears, go grab some corn, and enjoy the last weeks of summer with this tasty side dish.
Sweet and Spicy Cheesy Corn Salad
Ingredients
6 – 8 Ears of corn, shucked
½ to 2 jalapeños (depending on desired level of spiciness), seeded and diced
4 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 to 3/4 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
2 to 3 Tbsp Mayonnaise or Sour Cream
1 Tbsp vinegar
1 Tbsp dark brown sugar or honey
½ tsp coarse sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper
½ tsp smoked paprika (hot or mild, whichever you prefer)
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
¼ tsp ground mustard
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Directions
- Drop ears of corn into a large pot of boiling, salted water.
- Boil for approximately 10 minutes, until tender. Remove from pot and let cool.
- In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, mayonnaise and all seasonings.
- Cut kernels off the cob and mix corn into cream cheese mixture. Serve immediately.
Side note– Don’t be afraid to get creative! Add Siracha sauce, scallions, cilantro, cinnamon, or lime for extra deliciousness.
Comment below and let me know what fun twist you put on this dish, or feel free to share your favorite way to enjoy corn!
Click here to download a printable copy of the Sweet and Spicy Cheesy Corn Salad Recipe
