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Summer Caesar Salad with Charred Sweet Corn

GF Gluten-Free V Vegetarian
Posted by Jess Larson on August 20th, 2024
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A summer-inspired Sweet Corn Caesar Salad! Replace classic Caesar's toasty croutons with juicy-sweet charred corn kernels for smoky, sweet, and summery pops of texture in every bite. Just toss the sweet corn "croutons" with chopped romaine lettuce, shaved parmesan, and creamy Caesar dressing for the ultimate summer salad, ready in 20 minutes or less!

Naturally Gluten-Free. Easily Vegetarian, Vegan, & Dairy-Free.

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An overhead shot of charred sweet corn Caesar salad in a large shallow white bowl with a wooden serving spoon alongside a striped cloth on a light blue surface. The bowl is also surrounded by halved and juiced lemons, a jar of dressing, and bowls of black pepper and parmesan cheese.
Photography by Gayle McLeod
Prep: 10 min
Cook: 10 min
Serves: 2-4

Summer Caesar Salad With Pops of Charred Juicy-Sweet Corn ‘Croutons‘

Few salads are as iconic as Caesar salad—and for good reason! Light, crispy greens, salty cheese, crunchy croutons, and creamy dressing—truly unmatched.

But sometimes, it’s fun to play with the classics. I love giving Caesar salad a twist with seasonal ingredients. (Remember my viral Autumn Caesar Salad with squash ‘croutons’? Yum!)

I figured it’s about time to try a super summery version. Hello, Charred Sweet Corn Caesar Salad! 🤩🌽

A close-up macro shot of charred sweet corn Caesar salad garnished with basil leaves. this Recipe for Later!
A Summer Caesar Salad with juicy-sweet charred sweet corn ‘croutons’—the ultimate seasonal twist. Ready in 20 minutes!

This summer Caesar salad is complete with all of the essentials: a base of Romaine lettuce, shaved parmesan cheese, and creamy Caesar dressing.

The twist comes into play with charred sweet corn kernels—a fun, seasonally-inspired swap for traditional bread croutons. Like croutons, roasted corn adds texture to every bite, just with a little more juicy summertime sweetness.

The resulting Caesar is light, sweet-savory, and fresh—the perfect summer salad. Enjoy as-is for a light bite or bulk it up a little bit with extra protein for a satisfying weeknight meal. I love pairing it with Grilled Lemon Chicken or Turkey Zucchini Meatballs. It’s also a stunning side dish for any summer cookout!

And for a 20-minute, minimal cook recipe, you really can’t beat that! 🌽😎

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An overhead shot of ingredients on a wooden board and light blue surface: ears of corn, romaine lettuce, a halved and sliced shallot, parmesan cheese, juiced lemons, salt, pepper, and Caesar dressing.
This summer Caesar salad is made with 6 simple ingredients: lettuce, shallots, lemon, parmesan cheese, Caesar dressing, and sweet corn.

Homemade Caesar Dressing ⇢ While store-bought Caesar dressing works, it’s really easy to make from scratch. My go-to recipe uses 7 kitchen staples and comes together in 5 minutes with a blender. It’s thick, creamy, garlicky, and has a hint of fresh lemon that pairs beautifully with sweet corn. Get the recipe! ⇢ Creamy Homemade Caesar Dressing.

How to Char Sweet Corn for Extra Juicy-Sweet, Roasted “Croutons”

As far as I’m concerned, sweet corn is basically nature’s candy. And while I love the snappy texture of raw kernels, a quick char really takes the flavor to the next level by enhancing corn’s juicy-sweetness with minimal effort.

An overhead shot of grilled sweet corn on the cob and cut off the cob on a wooden board and in a stoneware bowl atop a light blue surface.
Roasting fresh corn intensifies its sweet flavor with a kiss of light smokiness.

How to char sweet corn? ⇢ I love roasting it on the stovetop! Place shucked ears of corn directly over a gas burner, turn the stove on to medium-high heat, and let each side char for a few minutes over the open flame.

When the corn is as charred as you like, use a knife to carefully slice the kernels from the cob – easy!

Alternate Cook Method! ⇢ No gas stove? Char your sweet corn on the grill, in a grill pan, or broil it in the oven. Grilling adds even more smoky flavor. Check the Recipe Notes below for more guidance!

Assembling Caesar Salad With Corn (Less Than 5 Minutes!)

Roasting the sweet corn is the most time-intensive part of this recipe. Once it’s ready, just toss everything together—5 minutes, tops!

An overhead shot of romaine lettuce topped with charred sweet corn, sliced shallots and parmesan cheese in a large glass bowl atop a light blue surface. The bowl is surrounded by a bowl of salt, a striped cloth, juiced lemon halves, and a jar of dressing.
Layer all the ingredients in a large bowl, then finish with a pinch of salt and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. The lemon’s acidity mellows the raw shallots’ punchy flavor.
An overhead shot of sweet corn Caesar salad in a large glass bowl atop a light blue surface. The bowl is surrounded by a bowl of salt, a striped cloth, juiced lemon halves, and a jar of dressing.
Drizzle the Caesar dressing over the corn salad and gently toss to combine well.
An overhead shot of charred sweet corn Caesar salad in a large shallow white bowl alongside a striped cloth on a light blue surface.
For an extra-pretty finishing touch, nestle the remaining charred sweet corn kernels over top and garnish with leafy fresh basil.

Easy Recipe Variations! ⇢ Traditional Caesar dressing contains anchovy, so it’s not meatless or dairy-free. But you can easily make a vegetarian or vegan version of this corn Caesar salad with a few quick swaps—check the Recipe Notes below for guidance!

An overhead shot of charred sweet corn Caesar salad in a large shallow white bowl with a wooden serving spoon alongside a striped cloth on a light blue surface. The bowl is also surrounded by a jar of dressing and bowls of black pepper and parmesan cheese.
Enjoy as-is or serve alongside grilled chicken or turkey meatballs. Summer in a bowl!

I can’t wait for you to try this 20-Minute Summer Caesar Salad with Charred Corn! It’s a fun twist on the iconic salad – trust me, you’ll want to eat it all sweet corn season long!

If you do give it a try, be sure to let us know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo and tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. We LOVE seeing your PWWB creations! ♡ Happy cooking!

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An overhead shot of charred sweet corn Caesar salad in a large shallow white bowl with a wooden serving spoon alongside a striped cloth on a light blue surface. The bowl is also surrounded by halved and juiced lemons and a bowl of parmesan cheese.

Summer Caesar Salad with Charred Sweet Corn (20 Minutes)

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  • Author: Jess Larson
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: serves 2-4 1x
  • Category: Entree Salads & Bowls, Side Dish Recipes
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian
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Description

A summer-inspired Sweet Corn Caesar Salad! Replace classic Caesar’s toasty croutons with juicy-sweet charred corn kernels for smoky, sweet, and summery pops of texture in every bite. Just toss the sweet corn “croutons” with chopped romaine lettuce, shaved parmesan, and creamy Caesar dressing for the ultimate summer salad, ready in 20 minutes or less!

Naturally Meatless and Gluten-Free. Easily Vegetarian and Vegan.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 ears sweet corn, husked and silks removed
  • 1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped (approx. 4 cups)
  • 1 large shallot, thinly sliced⁠
  • ½ lemon, juiced
  • ⅓ cup shaved parmesan⁠ cheese
  • ⅓ cup creamy Caesar dressing, store-bought or homemade
  • kosher salt and ground black pepper, to season

Instructions

  1. Char the sweet corn: Place the sweet corn directly over a gas burner on the stovetop. Light to a medium-high flame and cook about 2 minutes per side or until as charred as desired. Transfer to a cutting board and carefully slice kernels away from the cob. Set aside. Alternately, if you do not have a gas stove, you can also char the corn on an outdoor grill, in a grill pan, or under the broiler.An overhead shot of grilled sweet corn on the cob and cut off the cob on a wooden board and in a stoneware bowl atop a light blue surface.
  2. Toss the Caesar salad: To a large mixing bowl, add the lettuce and shallot. Squeeze the lemon juice over top, season with a good pinch of kosher salt, then lightly toss to combine. Add the charred sweet corn kernels, shaved cheese, and Caesar dressing. Toss to combine well. Taste and season with additional salt and ground black pepper as needed.An overhead shot of romaine lettuce topped with charred sweet corn, sliced shallots and parmesan cheese in a large glass bowl atop a light blue surface. The bowl is surrounded by a bowl of sweet corn, a striped cloth, and a jar of dressing. An overhead shot of sweet corn Caesar salad in a large glass bowl atop a light blue surface. The bowl is surrounded by a bowl of sweet corn, a striped cloth, and a jar of dressing.
  3. Serve: Portion the sweet corn Caesar salad into individual bowls. Finish with extra grated parmesan or ground black pepper as desired. Serve immediately. Enjoy!An overhead shot of charred sweet corn Caesar salad in a large shallow white bowl with a wooden serving spoon alongside a striped cloth on a light blue surface. The bowl is also surrounded by halved and juiced lemons and a bowl of parmesan cheese.

Equipment

Notes

  • Dietary Restrictions: This charred corn Caesar salad is naturally gluten-free. For a vegetarian version, be sure to use your favorite vegetarian-friendly Caesar dressing and rennet-free parmesan. To take it a step further and make it vegan, use dairy-free Caesar dressing and parmesan (or omit added cheese altogether).

Portions and Serving Suggestions:

  • Portions: As written, this recipe yields a large salad, suitable for feeding 2-3 as a main dish (perhaps with another add-in) or 4-6 as a side dish for a full spread. To feed a larger crowd at a summer dinner party or backyard cookout, feel free to double or triple as needed.
  • Serving Suggestions: Feel free to add a protein to make a heartier dinner salad. We love serving this Caesar with my Quick and Easy Grilled Lemon Chicken. Simple shredded chicken breast or sliced chicken sausage works great too. For a next-level add-in, cube up some Crispy Parmesan Crusted Chicken or Turkey Zucchini Meatballs – delicious!

Storage and Make-Ahead:

  • Storage: While this sweet corn Caesar is best enjoyed fresh, any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Enjoy cold or at room temperature.
  • Make-Ahead Instructions: If you’d like to prepare this sweet corn Caesar salad ahead of time, for meal prep or party prep, I suggest prepping the components in advance. Char the sweet corn according to Step 1 of Recipe Directions, then layer everything into a large salad bowl. Add the dressing and toss the salad immediately before serving.

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Hi there, I'm Jess!

If there’s 1 thing to know about me, it’s this: I am head-over-heels in love with food. I’m on a mission to make weeknight cooking flavorful, fast, & fun for other foodies, & PWWB is where I share foolproof recipes that deliver major flavor with minimal effort. Other true loves: pretty shoes, puppies, Grey’s Anatomy, & my cozy kitchen in Minneapolis, MN.

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