This corn and arugula salad is the perfect summertime side dish, or you can turn it into a main course with grilled shrimp or chicken. It's sweet, salty, smoky, crunchy and creamy, and it tastes like a lightened-up version of Mexican street corn!

Close up of fork taking bite of Mexican street corn salad.

Whenever we have sweet corn with dinner I always make a few extra cobs so that I can use the kernels later in the week. This corn arugula salad is our favorite way to use up leftover corn, but it’s also reason enough to cook it in the first place. The salad is inspired by Mexican street corn but tastes lighter and more vibrant, with a range of textures and tastes.

Overhead shot of sweet corn salad on table with glass of wine on the side

Creamy ancho dressing

The creamy but light ancho dressing is a cinch to make and ties everything together. Lime juice and mayonnaise provide the base for the dressing. They get whisked with garlic, smoked paprika and ancho chile powder for flavor. If you can't find ancho chile powder (which is simply ground ancho chilies) you can use a regular chili powder blend instead (which is a blend of ground chilies with other spices such as cumin and oregano). The dressing can be made several days ahead of time.

How to make corn and arugula salad:

Make the creamy ancho dressing.
Toss cooked corn kernels (you can use boiled, steamed or grilled corn!) with peppery arugula, crunchy radishes and cilantro.
Drizzle on the dressing, and toss to coat.
Crumble salty cotija or feta cheese over the top of the salad, and garnish with roasted pumpkin seeds (which are optional). Serve!

Overhead shot of half-eaten plate of Mexican street corn salad.

Serving suggestions

The corn salad is fantastic on its own, or alongside grilled meats, fish or burgers. I love to pile it over pounded cooked chicken breasts for a Mexican take on chicken paillard. You can also serve it as a main course by topping the salad with shrimp or chicken.

Don't miss these other sweet corn recipes!

Other recipes to try:

Easy Homemade Grits
Vietnamese Rice Noodle Salad with Shrimp
Slow Cooker Carnitas
Grilled Chipotle Chicken Tacos
The Best Oven Baked French Fries
Pan Fried Falafel
Oven Grilled Cheese
Blender Tomato Soup

I'd love to answer any of your questions and see what you're cooking!! Don't forget to give this recipe a star rating and leave a comment below. Follow along on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube & Pinterest, and be sure to tag @nickisizemore so that I can share your creations!

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Corn and Arugula Salad with Creamy Ancho Dressing

This easy corn and arugula salad is a spectacular showcase for summer corn. It's sweet, salty, smoky, crunchy and creamy, and it tastes like a lightened-up version of Mexican street corn! You'll need cooked corn kernels for this recipe, which you can either steam, boil or grill (it's a great way to use up leftover corn!). If the corn is really fresh you can even use it raw. If you can’t find ancho chile powder, you can use a standard chili powder blend. Serve the salad as a side dish, or turn it into a main course by topping it with grilled shrimp or chicken. Sometimes I add avocado as well.

Prep Time15

Total Time15

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: corn salad, sweet corn recipes, sweet corn salad

Servings: -6 people

Author: Nicki Sizemore

Ingredients

Dressing

½ teaspoon lime zest
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 garlic clove, grated
⅓ cup mayonnaise
¼ teaspoon ancho chile powder
⅛ teaspoon smoked paprika
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Salad

4 cups cooked corn kernels (about 4 cobs)
3 handfuls baby arugula
4-5 radishes, thinly sliced
¼ cup coarsely chopped cilantro
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
½ cup crumbled feta or cotija cheese
2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds (optional)

Instructions

Make the dressing

In a small bowl, combine the lime zest, lime juice and grated garlic clove. Whisk in the mayonnaise, ancho chile powder, smoked paprika and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Assemble the salad

In a large bowl, toss the corn kernels with the arugula, radishes and cilantro. Add the dressing and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with the feta or cotija cheese and the pumpkin seeds (if using); serve it up!

Notes

Do Ahead: The dressing can be refrigerated for up to 5 days.

Tips:

This is a great way to use up leftover cooked corn. You could use steamed, boiled or grilled corn. If the corn is really fresh and sweet you can even use it raw!
If you can't find ancho chile powder (which is just ground ancho chilies) you can use a chili powder blend instead (which is a mix of ground chilies with other spices).