As I walking home the other day, I noticed a mini food market being set up at a nearby park, just around the corner from my place. I was curious to see what it was all about and had a good “sticky beak” around. They were selling fresh produce from a nearby farm and whilst the goods were not certified as organic, the gentlemen doing all the talking explained that they were “home grown” and “just picked”. The food that grabbed my most attention were the fresh ears of corn. I’d been on a bit of a mission lately searching for corn that wasn’t pre-cut and packaged in nice plastic, like I found at the supermarket recently. Let’s just say that mother nature was truly well and alive when I peeled back the husks! Out came a few small caterpillars! I did say I wanted authentic right?
I don’t have a barbecue because I live in a compact apartment so having fresh grilled corn with butter was out of the question. I decided to do the next best thing and roast these beauties to make some roasted corn salsa. It’s still quite warm here in Sydney so the salsa would be a perfect and fresh addition to any dish. It’s a simple recipe utilising ingredients many of you are familiar with. I oiled the corn with some olive oil and cooked it in a very hot oven (200 deg C) for about 25 minutes. Once it had cooled I cut off all the kernels and to those I added, half a diced red onion, half a diced red capsicum, a bunch of finely chopped cilantro, the juice of half a lime, a few splashes of Tabasco and some salt and pepper.
I served up the fresh corn salsa with some pan fried Blue-Eyed Cod fish fillets. The salsa was perfect with this white, firm fleshed fish. A great combination of “crunch” and late summer flavours (except we’re officially in Autumn!). I’m curious to see what else I can find at these markets next time they come around.
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
Stunning Peter! I adore the first shot. It’s so inviting and sharp, I could reach out and grab that corn!
Last year I made a fresh corn salsa. There really is just no comparison with the canned.
BTW, where is this little place… I live nearby you I think I may have access to it…. email me!
Cilantro is hardly ever sold in cretan supermarkets (i’ve only found it once), even though it’s a staple herb in most other Mediterranean countries.
I love simple meals like this – and I’d be happy to use canned corn to make it even simpler!
That’s true salsa for the soul….how pretty & warm your pictures are. I love the flavours in there. Reading your post about plastic wrapped corn, I am quite thrilled that we get our corn fresh, no plastic, no authentic bugs yet (LOL)…but FRESH! Good idea this!! Yum Yum!
Salsa tastes so great! Yours looks very appetizing, refreshing and colorful! I love the first picture…
Cheers,
Rosa
I love corn and cilantro, but never thought of combining the two! I think it would also suit chicken as well.
Peter…Your photos are stunning as usual. I thought for sure I would read at the end that you were submitting them to Jugalbandi for their “wood” photo competition because each shot includes wood. Are you not aware of this event?
Hola Chico! I bet we had nicer temperatures this weekend here than in Sidney!!!! 24ºC… not too bad, ugh? I love it!!!! Love the warm sun… Ohhhhh how I missed it this winter! Your “mazorcas de maiz” look just too lovely with that dark background contrast. What a wonderful salsa for a Cod… or a Hake… or some meat… or did you guess I’m hungry?
Gorgeous photos! I make a very similar salsa in the summer – this makes me miss warm weather and corn!
Phoo-D
Good call Peter!!!! Now you have me craving summer corn!!!! There is a lady who grows the BEST corn in this province not far from here…in season of course:D
Nice, simple and yummy, that’s how I like it! Do you have any suggestions for substituting the cilantro – I’m one of the people who can’t even smell it:-)
It’s just about springtime here, and I’ll be planting corn again in about a month. Here in the US we have a phrase that your corn should be “knee-high by the 4th of July” to ensure it’s ready before the season’s up. I really just can’t wait.
Beautiful photos, too, as always. I hope you saved those corn cobs! They give excellent flavor to chicken stock for making chowders – something I’m sure you’ll be happy to be making in another month or two!
Thank God we still get everything fresh here in Greece. All your pictures are lovely Peter but do you climb ladders to take the pictures (lol). They all seem to have a view from the ceiling.
In summer, I can eat that salsa like a salad…it is so popular in my family. The corn looks amazing and I’d be lucky if I can find cilantro here with roots. Ingredients look so great, my mouth is watering! By the way, there is a trick to grilling it on electric stove if you have that (I wrote about it last summer) I miss freshly grilled corn the most and yes, nothing like done on real fire!
The caterpillars certainly prove it’s fresh. Just so long as they don’t get to eat your corn before you do! This is a great summery recipe.
Fresh, in season corn is a delight. Try grilling the corn and then make the salsa…a whole new experience!
I really like your idea of topping fish with salsa…a “duh, why didn’t I think of that” moment. lol
Peter, every time I think your photos can’t get any better, they are more stunning than the time before. These are wonderful. Corn salsa is so delicious. There are few things better than fresh corn!
Oh, isn’t the sweet corn divine!
I actually made something very similar to this the other day (am yet to blog about it), though my photos aren’t nearly as beautiful.
Now I want some more Corn Salsa – maybe dinner tonight
the corn salsa is good but i am loving the pictures peter! gorgeous!
Ivy is right, you have got to be Spiderman, crawling on the ceiling to get these pics! But they are phenomenal! And I love fresh salsa w/ whitefish. Great job!
You have captured the warm & vibrant flavors of the corn in your pictures. Love that squeezed Lime! Lovely recipe as well. Might make this one today since I have tons of corn sitting here.
gorgeous. just truly gorgeous. the black background is perfect for this.
I remember getting fresh maize at my dad’s little town when I was a kid. I think I’ve been in love with it ever since. I have made some corn salsas before, but I have never try them with roasted corn. That is something I will have to do this fall. As usual lovely pictures, I especially like the one with all the ingredients lined up. So many beautiful colors!
I had such a craving for grilled corn last night. We grilled for dinner but corn isn’t yet in season! We had to have a can of corn. Your salsa looks great!
Looks great Peter! That cilantro looks like it just came out of the ground with the roots and all.
I can’t wait till corn is back in season over here! These pics are amazing!!!
New to your blog. What great pictures!
I love corn salsa. Unfortunately, it has gone up so much in price over the last year or so in the U.S.:-(
Incidentally, avocado with corn is also very good.
Wow – brilliant photos. Soma (from eCurry) said they were great, and she was definitely right!
To say that your pretty pictures, nothing I admire and I tasted the eyes … and I craque bravo j’adore …