SWEET-CORN SALAD

Sweet-Corn Salad image

Here's a recipe for sweet-corn salad designed to preserve the dignity of the solitary diner. The salad itself requires minimal cooking, which means the small amount of time you spend on it can all be attentive and quite personal. It amounts to simple cutting of kernels from the last of the season's corn cobs, and warming them in good olive oil with garlic, some scallions and a bit of chopped fresh vegetables, then finishing it all with chopped herbs. If corn season has ended, tender butter beans from a can, drained and rinsed, make a perfect substitute. Served with a wedge of good cheese and a thick cut of bread, the salad becomes part of a simple but complete meal, to be eaten in your own good company.

Provided by Tamar Adler

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

3 ears fresh sweet corn, shucked
Olive oil
1-2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 bulbed spring onion or 3 scallions, thinly sliced
Kosher salt
1 small handful cherry tomatoes, halved; or half a cucumber, quartered vertically, then chopped thinly across, or both
Sprinkle of water
A few drops red- or white-wine vinegar
1 small handful fresh basil leaves, torn
1 very small handful fresh marjoram leaves, chopped

Steps:

Scrape the kernels from each cob by holding it vertically in a large bowl, fat end up, and cutting kernels off, into the bowl, with a sharp knife. Freeze the empty cobs for soup stock.
Heat a large, flat sauté pan. When it's warm, add a good amount of olive oil. Turn the heat down to medium-high, and add the garlic and onion.
Sprinkle them lightly with kosher salt. Stir periodically for a few minutes, until the onions and garlic have begun to become translucent, then add the tomatoes or cucumbers (or combination). Let sizzle for two minutes, then add the corn and a sprinkle of water.
Raise the heat, stir once or twice, taste for salt and adjust, then add a few drops of vinegar. Mix through. Turn off heat, add herbs, stir.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 87, UnsaturatedFat 2 grams, Carbohydrate 17 grams, Fat 2 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 208 milligrams, Sugar 6 grams, TransFat 0 grams