Healthy BBQ side dishes don't get much more colourful than this Sweetcorn Salsa. It's chunky, zesty and can be thrown together in less than 5 minutes. Serve it with some homemade burgers and use any leftovers in a grilled fish taco. This is a salsa that you need to make this summer.
This Sweetcorn Salsa Recipe was made out of ingredients I already had in the cupboard, fridge and vegetable rack and I just threw together in under 5 minutes. The ultimate fridge raid side dish, meaning that it is easy to adapt with whatever you have.
We are all about simple, seasonal food and this sweetcorn salsa definitely ticks those boxes. The star of the dish is of course the corn, but there is also chunks of tomato and bell pepper, finely chopped jalapeno, a ton of herbs, a citrus dressing to bring it all together and then feta crumbled on top.
If you are looking for more ways to use corn, then try our delicious Grilled Corn, super easy Sweetcorn Fritters, or quick Air Fryer Corn.
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Ingredients needed
- Sweetcorn - We use canned sweetcorn, as that's what we had. However, you could use frozen sweetcorn that is cooked and cooled or cook it from the corn ear.
- Bell pepper - Any colour goes here, but we like red because it contrasts with the yellow of the corn. You could use diced roasted red pepper which gives it a real boost of flavour.
- Tomato - This is a great way to use up juicy and ripe end of summer tomatoes. You could use some sundried tomatoes too for extra flavour.
- Onion - Red onion adds a nice crunch and colour, but you could use spring onions (scallions) too.
- Coriander (cilantro) - I know not everyone loves coriander, but it adds a lovely freshness and adds to the Mexican vibes as this is a Mexican sweetcorn salsa.
- Jalapeños - The best chilli in our our opinion. Use more or less, depending on how much heat you like.
- Lime - This is where all the zestiness comes from. Freshly squeeze it yourself. The amount you need will depend on how juicy your limes are.
- Oil - Use a really good quality olive oil.
- Apple cider vinegar - This adds a nice acidic flavour to the corn salsa.
- Garlic - Freshly crushed is best.
- Feta - Everything is better with feta, right? The creaminess of the feta compliments the creaminess of the corn.
- Salt & pepper - Generously season.
A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
How to make Sweetcorn Salsa - Step by step
One: In a bowl, add the sweetcorn, red pepper, tomatoes and red onion and mix well.
Two: Add the coriander (cilantro), jalapenos, lime juice, olive oil, cider vinegar, garlic and salt and pepper and mix well.
Three: Add the feta just before serving and mix well.
Variations
Dressing - We just mixed the vegetables with oil, vinegar, lime juice and garlic and then seasoned it. You could add some chilli flakes for a bit of a kick. You could also add a Healthy Ranch Dressing or a Lemon Viniagrette.
Vegetables - There is no reason why you couldn't add any cooked vegetable or salad to this. This corn salsa is a great way to use up whatever you have. We like adding radish, olives, and Air Fryer Roasted Vegetables to it. Avocado also goes really well, and if you want to give it a protein boost, then some chickpeas or black beans work well.
Grilled Corn - To make this corn salsa recipe a really easy BBQ side dish, we have just used tinned sweetcorn, so it can just be thrown together, but if you want to take this healthy sweetcorn salsa to the next level, then use grilled corn to make this. It will take a little bit of extra time, but it's totally worth it.
I would recommend putting all the other ingredients in a bowl and then slicing the grilled corn off the cob at the table straight into the bowl and then mix it up before serving. Have you tried our Grilled Corn with Herb Butter recipe?
Serving suggestions
This salsa is a must at any BBQ and goes great with burgers, hot dogs and grilled chicken. However, if you have any leftover, keep it to add to grilled fish tacos or Pulled Pork Tacos. It makes them wonderfully light and zesty.
Here are some BBQ recipes that go really well with this chunky salsa:
- Cajun Chicken Burgers
- Hidden Vegetable Beef Burgers
- Vegetable and Halloumi Kebabs
- Greek Chicken Skewers
- Honey and Lime Chicken
Frequently asked questions
Sweetcorn is rich is in Vitamin B12, folic acid and iron and it feeds good bacteria in your gut, which aids in digestion and helps keep you regular. It's also a good opportunity to add lots more veg too.
If you leave out the feta, then you can keep this vegan.
Any leftovers can be stored in an air tight container and kept in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just give it a good mix before serving.
Extra tips
• Don't like coriander (cilantro)? Swap this for parsley.
• You could leave the jalapenos out if you don't like anything spicy and add some chopped up gherkin pickles instead.
• Add a bit of extra sweetness to this by throwing in some chunks of pineapple (use tinned to keep it simple). Sweetcorn and pineapple are a delicious combination.
• This doesn't just have to be a side dish. Grill a couple of chicken breasts and cut them into chunks before mixing them into the sweetcorn salsa.
• If you have any of it left over, then it works really well in tacos to bulk them out a bit.
More BBQ side dishes
If you’ve tried this sweetcorn salsa recipe, then let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - You can use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Sweetcorn Salsa
Ingredients
- 300 g (2 cups) Sweetcorn - canned; drained
- 1 Red bell pepper - diced
- 6 Tomatoes - diced
- 0.5 Red onion - diced
- 10 g (0.66 cups) Fresh coriander (cilantro) - finely chopped
- 2 Jalapeños - diced (less if you don't like spicy)
- 1 Lime - (juice only)
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar
- 2 Garlic clove - crushed
- 1 Pinch Sea salt and black pepper
- 40 g (0.25 cups) Feta - crumbled
Instructions
- In a bowl, add 300 g Sweetcorn, 1 Red bell pepper, 6 Tomatoes and 0.5 Red onion and mix well.
- Add 10 g Fresh coriander (cilantro), 2 Jalapeños, juice of 1 Lime, 1 tablespoon Olive oil, 1 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar, 2 Garlic clove and 1 Pinch Sea salt and black pepper and mix well.
- Add 40 g Feta just before serving and mix well.
Recipe tips
- Don't like coriander (cilantro)? Swap this for parsley.
- You could leave the jalapenos out if you don't like anything spicy and add some chopped up gherkin pickles instead.
- Add a bit of extra sweetness to this by throwing in some chunks of pineapple (use tinned to keep it simple). Sweetcorn and pineapple are a delicious combination.
- This doesn't just have to be a side dish. Grill a couple of chicken breasts and cut them in to chunks before mixing them in to the sweetcorn salsa.
- If you have any of it left over, then it works really well in tacos to bulk them out a bit.
Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
Elizabeth
I am loving the look of this! I have such a fondness for tinned sweetcorn, and I bet it's just amazing with the feta!
Natalie
Looks so colorful and delicious! The perfect salsa for hosting a dinner party and for summer weekdays dinner - healthy and delicious.
Claudia Lamascolo
I love how simple this is for the summer and light and feta makes it super delicious its my favorite cheese in any salad. This ones a keeper for sure!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
What a tasty and colourful looking side dish! Definitely going to have to make this for my BBQ.
Alex @ Medmunch
The photos look amazing, great job. Will definitely give this a go, looks super fresh and tasty!
Claudia Lamascolo
wow just Reading these ingredients makes me want to try it I love everything in it and then the heat from the peppers must really kick this up a notch!
Caroline
I love how easy and colorful this looks, and great with lots of dishes over the summer too.
Allison - Celebrating Sweets
Anytime I can consume salsa with cheese in it I am HAPPY! Ha! This looks fantastic!
linda spiker
Perfection! Perfect as a side for any BBQ mani course!
Danielle Howard
This looks so simple and tasty! Perfect for summer!
Eileen
Great recipe, with this one, you can impress!
Hempextract
Wow it looks very delicious can't wait to eat i am a big fond of to eat good and healthy food i really like it thanks for share.
Janice
This looks so fresh and delciious, I love sweetcorn and I think it would be great in a salsa.
Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness
Yum, I love salsa of any kind. I actually just recently had a corn & bean dish - they called it a salad but it was more like a salsa - and it made me want to start firing up my grill to make some awesome BBQ dinners!
Maria @ runningcupcake
That looks lovely; so fresh and vibrant.
Tendre Deal
That looks yummy & very nice photo shoot. I love salads but I am not preparing a lot at the moment probably because I thought I needed more comforting food. I should go back to healthier food now that the sun is coming back.
Lauren @ ihadabiglunch
This looks so deliciously fresh!! I usually am not a huge fan of corn salsa but I've been thinking about it a lot lately and I have a feeling it's going to make a comeback into my life this summer :)
Jeanne Horak-Druiff
I'm a sucker for anything containing sweetcorn and cilantro ;o)
Kate @ Veggie Desserts
This looks so good! I've just jumped on board the pico de gallo train, and this is a great similar alternative. In fact both would be lovely at a party or bbq. I adore sweetcorn so I'll definitely be making this. Who needs creamy fatty dips?!
Catherine
What a refreshing spring/summer dish. Love this. xo, Catherine