Author Notes
Perfect timing for summer picnics in whatever form. On the back porch or even on the front porch while playing yard games, on the beach, in a park or poolside picnics are just plain fun!
This time of year usually means simple meals with the freshest ingredients from the veggie stands or backyard gardens. I only planted peppers and tomatoes this year, so some of the great ingredients for this salad came from our local farmers.
Any given hot evening can find many of us taking a little evening cruise on the pontoon boat and cruising or beaching the boat for a few hours, rather impromptu for the most part and pretty much follow a triple “C”rule (CCC), corn, crab, and cocktails, switching to chicken if the crab pot hasn't been set.
This is an easy recipe and I robbed enough fresh corn that I was preparing for another use for a quick addition to dinner tonight, cutting the recipe in half for just a few of us. I've made this recipe since the 80’s no real changes over the years with the exception of the availability of cilantro. Great make ahead addition to summer meals.
I don't even know what the original inspiration was so many years ago other than packing up a picnic basket or cooler, an outdoor concert comes to mind though. —ibbeachnana
Ingredients
- Dressing ingredients
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2/3 cup
Mild olive oil
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1/3 cup
Carolina seasoned cider vinegar or plain cider vinegar
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2
small cloves of garlic, minced
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2 teaspoons
Honey or Agave syrup
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2 teaspoons
Coarse ground Dijon mustard
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about a teaspoon of ground cumin
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1/2 teaspoon
Sweet paprika
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Pinch of smoked paprika
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Dashes of hot sauce if not using the Carolina seasoned vinegar
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Salt and pepper to taste
- Salad ingredients
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8
Ears of fresh corn, cleaned and kernels cut off, blanch in salted water for 2-4 minutes, drain and cool
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4
Vidalia green onion tops and white part, ends trimmed, chopped
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1/4
of a large Vidalia onion, diced (grilled if you like)
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1
Small yellow squash, halved brushed with oil, s&p and lightly grilled and large diced
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1
Zucchini, halved brushed with oil, s&p, lightly grilled and then large diced
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5-6
Assorted baby peppers, red, yellow, orange, oiled and lightly grilled, large diced
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1/2
Large green pepper, oiled and lightly grilled, large diced
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1/4 cup
Fresh cilantro, chopped
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1/4 cup
Italian parsley, chopped
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Juice from 2-3 key limes and a little zest
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Fresh chopped chives for garnish
Directions
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Mix all of the dressing ingredients, shake or whisk until thoroughly blended before pouring over the salad.
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Grill the peppers, squashes, prepare for salad. When corn is cooled add all the vegetables and herbs,mix, dress, season if necessary. Garnish with squeezes of lime and chopped chives.
* Grilling the onions, optional, I like the sweetness of the raw Vidalia onions in this salad
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