Grilled Corn and Tomato Salad Recipe

I've made a fresh Tex-Mex Grilled Corn and Tomato Salad for you today. The sweet smokey taste of seasoned grilled corn is the star in this recipe. The fresh grape tomatoes add acid and more sweetness. Jalapeno and cilantro bring Southwest flair to this healthy side dish salad.

Corn and Tomato Salad - Made with Fresh Grilled Corn

During the warmer months, I grilled fresh corn pretty regularly.  It is a nice change of pace from typical starches.

I prefer to cook my sweet corn on the grill, either in husk or foil.  Either way, remove the silk from the ears before grilling.

• Grilling in husk adds a smokey element to the corn, which I generally prefer & doesn't use up my foil.  I have also found that I don't mind eating corn grilled in the husk not smothered in butter.  Basting it in seasoned oil before grilling gives it plenty of flavor for me, so that saves quite a few calories.
• Grilling in foil is better for prepping ahead and it is easier to serve.

Corn de-silked with outer husk layers removed. Ready to be basted, re-covered by husks and grilled.

Before & after the grill. Soaking corn in water before grilling will help it steam in the husk, but if you don't ... grilling takes a little longer, and the husks char, which brings a smokey taste to your corn on a gas grill.

My daughter on a sampling mission.

Cutting corn off cob for salad.

This Grilled Corn and Tomato Salad makes a great side dish in itself, or a terrific component to your Tex-Mex style meal.  You will actually be seeing it appear here very soon as part of another recipe.  I find that the smokey sweet  flavor of the in-husk grilled corn pairs nicely with tomatoes, and the dressing zips it up a bit.

In addition to serving this corn and tomato salad as a side, I also use it in my Grilled Shrimp Tacos and drizzle on some of my homemade Avocado Lime Ranch.

Love starchy salads? Try my Pea Salad, it's the best!

Grilled Sweet Corn and Tomato Salad Recipe

Grilled corn and tomato salad. Perfect picnic or BBQ side dish. Also great used in or with other Tex-Mex dishes.

4.89 from 9 votes

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Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories:

Author: Robin Gagnon

Ingredients

• 3-4 ears of fresh corn in husk
• 1 cup grape tomatoes sliced in half
• ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 jalapeno (de-seeded & diced)

Corn Salad Dressing

• 2 tbs olive oil
• 2 tbs fresh lime juice
• 2 cloves of garlic
• ¾ teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon light brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon chili powder

Instructions

• Combine dressing ingredients in small bowl and whisk together. (¼ will be used to baste corn, ½ will dress the salad & ¼ is reserved for marinating an accompanying protein or just to drizzle)
• Preheat grill.
• Peel back the corn husks, discarding all but a couple inner layers. Remove corn silk, then baste with dressing, and recover corn with remaining husk. *
• Grill on med-high for 20-25 minutes, turning 3-4 times during cooking time.*
• Remove the corn from grill and allow to cool a few minutes, then cut off stem end, place the flat cut end on bottom of large bowl, and run a small sharp knife down the length of the cob, slicing off kernels.
• Add the tomato, cilantro, jalapeno and ½ the dressing. Mix well.
• Serve at room temp or chilled.

Notes

*if you prefer, soak ears of corn in water for about 10 minutes prior to husking and de-silking. The husks will char less, giving less smoked flavor and helping the corn steam (Grill on high for 15 minutes instead, if you go this way).