Scooping corn salsa on a spoon out of a full bowl on a cutting board.

Simple Corn Salsa

This simple corn salsa is a refreshing and sweet addition to any meal either as a side or as a topping. Its versatility to use fresh or canned corn makes it possible to enjoy any time of year.

With just 5 ingredients this simple corn salsa whips up in no time. We make it even easier by using canned corn which also means you can enjoy this salsa any time of year.

The sweetness of the corn coupled with the sour lime makes this a very flavourful and refreshing dish.

Closeup of finished corn salsa in a bowl.

Whether you want to call this a salsa or a salad, all corn lovers are going to enjoy corn in this form. It’s an easy and quick way to transform boring old corn into something new without losing all that wonderful corn taste and feel.

If you have brave little eaters in your home add some cayenne pepper to turn this salsa into a Mexican corn copycat. You can start with just a pinch and work your way up to get the spice level just right.

Preparing Simple Corn Salsa

Ingredients 

Corn: Canned corn is ideal for this recipe because it is already cooked and ready to go without compromising on flavour. 

Lime on a lime tree in the distance behind leavesLime: Lime fruit is a green citrus fruit that is very sour. It has a very refreshing flavour but is often used in small quantities as that sour, sometimes almost bitter, flavour is very strong.

Cilantro: Cilantro is also known as coriander. They are in fact the same however the naming conventions vary between the Americas and other parts of the world.bunch of cilantro on a cutting board In America, cilantro is often referencing the fresh stem and leaf of the plant while coriander refers to the plant’s dried seeds. You will note that this is how I use these two terms. Other parts of the world refer to this plant as coriander and to its dried version as coriander seeds.

Paprika: I use sweet paprika for this recipe. It is not sweet in the sugary sense, but it is definitely the sweetest of them all compared to its spicy and smoked siblings.

How to Make Simple Corn Salsa

Don’t blink!! This is another quick and easy dish.

You want to start by juicing the lemon and chopping some fresh cilantro. Don’t forget to wash the cilantro first. You don’t want to end up with a sandy taste in your salsa.

Juice of a lime in a juicer with half a used lime on a cutting board

Next, open the can of corn and drain it over the sink. There is no need to rinse the corn, you don’t want to water down the flavour.

Can of corn poured into a sieve over a sink

Add the corn to a small bowl, with the cilantro, lime juice, paprika, salt and cayenne, if using.

Drained corn in a bowl Adding lime juice to bowl of corn with salt and pepper Parpika, cilantro, salt and pepper on corn in a bowl

Stir all of the ingredients together and you’re all set. The salsa only gets better with time so feel free to make this ahead for a party side or just to have some handy during the week.

Finished corn salasa in a bowl on a cutting board

Substitutions

Corn: If fresh corn is in-season where you are I recommend grilling the corn for about 2 minutes on all sides to get a bit of char on them.
Then run your knife along the cobb to slice off the corn kernels for this salad.

yellow corn on stainless steel tray

Paprika: If you don’t have paprika you may substitute it with chili powder. Use half of the suggested measurement if using chili powder. 

Serving 

Simple corn salsa is a very versatile dish. It makes a great dip to have with tortilla chips. Serve it along with your other favourites like guacamole, hummus or tomato salsa.

Closeup of finished corn salsa.

Corn salsa is also a great topping. Add it to your tacos, quesadilla or burrito to add some delicious sweetness to your meals.

And last, but certainly not least, use simple corn salsa as a delicious side to your dinner. It will complement a steak as well as any other vegetable. In fact, it might even make it stand out more. Your guests will also be pleasantly surprised to find this salsa as part of your next turkey dinner spread.

Zoom in on spoonful of simple corn salsa over a full bowl.

Simple Corn Salsa Recipe

This simple corn salsa is a refreshing and sweet addition to any meal either as a side or as a topping. Its versatility to use fresh or canned corn makes it possible to enjoy any time of year.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Appetizer, lunch, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 4 servings
Calories 83.1 kcal

Equipment

  • small bowl
  • Juicer
  • Can opener

Ingredients
 
 

  • 341 ml corn
  • 1 tsp lime
  • 1 tbsp fresh cilantro
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • ¼ tsp Cayenne pepper optional

Instructions
 

  • Start by juicing half a lime and washing and chopping the cilantro.
    1 tsp lime, 1 tbsp fresh cilantro
  • Open the can of corn and drain.
    341 ml corn
  • In a small bowl combine the corn and the remaining salsa ingredients.
    341 ml corn, 1 tsp lime, ¼ tsp salt, ½ tsp paprika, ¼ tsp Cayenne pepper, 1 tbsp fresh cilantro
  • Stir to combine.

Video

Notes

The servings represent the corn salsa as a side (1/3 cup per person). Depending on its use, the number of servings may vary. 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Simple Corn Salsa Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
83.1
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
1.3
g
2
%
Saturated Fat
 
0.2
g
1
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
0.5
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
0.3
g
Sodium
 
146.5
mg
6
%
Potassium
 
195.1
mg
6
%
Carbohydrates
 
18.1
g
6
%
Fiber
 
2.2
g
9
%
Sugar
 
3.9
g
4
%
Protein
 
3
g
6
%
Vitamin A
 
406.4
IU
8
%
Vitamin C
 
5
mg
6
%
Calcium
 
3.6
mg
0
%
Iron
 
0.5
mg
3
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @houseofgandk or tag #houseofgandkrecipes!
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