Corn is great, who doesn't love corn? It's one of those veggies that are great out of the can as well as fresh or frozen. Handy - those old reliables that you can grab out of the pantry in a pinch.
I keep a bowl of basic corn salad in the fridge a lot of the time. I consider it a base for lots of other things. One big use -- I grab a cup or so and throw it into a bunch of romaine, add some onion and other goodies like avocado, dress it and there you go: fabulous salad, chock full of raw stuff in lots of colors. Really healthy, really crunchy, really good.
Basic Corn Salad
Here, combine only what will meld together well and hold up for awhile, on its own, in the fridge. Right before serving, you add other things. I usually double this, cuz I love to have this stuff around.
1 can corn - NOT creamed
1 stalk celery, chopped small enough so the celery bites aren't that much bigger than the corn kernels
cherry or grape tomatoes, uncut
1 cup olives, black or green or a combo of both, cut in half
1 bell pepper, chopped like the celery and whatever color you like
The Additions - aka the Kitchen Sink
Get a big bowl and put as many or as few of the following together as you'd like. Sky's the limit. Don't do everything on this list, some of this stuff is redundant (for example, canned jalapenos vs. fresh, pick one or skip 'em both).
And remember, some of the best salads don't have any leafy greens (lettuce) in them! Then again, this stuff is great in a big leafy salad, too. Can you tell I'm a big fan of corn salad? LOL
After you've thrown your stuff together, dress it. What salad dressing? Use what you like. Italian, Ranch, a simple oil-and-vinegar ... just remember, dressing is suppose to act like glue to hold this stuff together so it doesn't fall off the fork on the way to your mouth. Don't over-glue.
1 avocado, sliced
1 cup rice
1 can beans (drain them), whatever you've got - red kidney, white kidney, pintos, garbanzos, black, etc.
Couple of handfuls of crushed up tortilla chips
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1 bunch scallions
1/2 red onion
1 small can sliced jalapeno peppers, drained
2 fresh jalapeno peppers, chopped small and seeded if you want to cut the heat
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Several shakes of that green canned Parmesan you have on hand for the kiddos
Red pepper flakes to taste
Big box of spring green mix (or bag, or handfuls)
Head of romaine, chopped
Bag of ready made cole slaw
1/2 head of cabbage, chopped into bite sized pieces
1 small can water chestnuts, chopped
1 small jicama, chopped
Asparagus, fresh, frozen, or canned, chopped into bite sized pieces
Artichoke hearts, cut into fourths
Hearts of palm, cut into bite sized pieces
Mushrooms, fresh, frozen, or canned, in bite sized pieces
4 radishes, sliced thinly
.. you get the idea. Notice there's no meat here. Although that can be added, too. Go for it!
