Street Corn Creamy Cucumber Salad (Printable)
Sweet charred corn meets crisp cucumbers in a tangy, creamy dressing inspired by Mexican street corn flavors.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 2 cups fresh corn kernels (about 3 ears or thawed frozen corn)
02 - 1 large English cucumber, diced
03 - 1/2 small red onion, finely diced
04 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
05 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped (optional)
→ Dressing
06 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
07 - 1/4 cup sour cream
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
09 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
10 - 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Toppings
13 - 1/3 cup cotija cheese, crumbled (or feta as substitute)
14 - 1 teaspoon chili powder (for garnish)
15 - Lime wedges (for serving)
# How to Make It:
01 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add corn kernels and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes until lightly charred. Allow to cool slightly.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the charred corn, diced cucumber, red onion, cilantro, and jalapeño (if using).
03 - In a separate small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently until evenly coated with the creamy mixture.
05 - Sprinkle crumbled cotija cheese and extra chili powder on top. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.
# Expert Hacks:
01 -
- The creamy dressing clings to every crunchy bite like a warm hug
- It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like you spent all day thinking about flavor combinations
02 -
- Hot corn will wilt your cucumber and make the dressing separate, so let those kernels cool for at least 10 minutes before mixing
- The salad tastes better after it sits for 15 minutes, but the cotija gets soggy if you add it too early
03 -
- Cut your cucumber into uniform pieces so every bite has the same satisfying crunch
- Taste the dressed salad before adding the final cheese layer, adjusting the salt or lime as needed