Ingredient and Equipment Notes
Pasta– I originally planned (and photographed) this salad with orzo, which is a pasta that looks a little like rice. Orzo works great, but since I created this recipe, I’ve also made it with orecchiette and I think I like that even better! If you’re not familiar with orecchiette see more explanation below. Mini bowtie would also work great here. Greens – Baby arugula adds a lot of flavor to the overall salad and doesn’t wilt as much as other greens. You can also use an baby arugula-spinach mix, which is what you see in my photos. Corn– Fresh corn on the cob works best here. In the recipe I’ll show 2 easy ways to char it. If you’re making this off-season and no fresh corn is available, you could use frozen fresh corn. I would avoid canned corn. Blueberries – though blueberries are in the title of this recipe and a great pairing with the other ingredients, there are lots of fruits that would also be equally delicious! Diced nectarines or peaches would be great, as would raspberries. English Cucumber – I prefer English cucumber because there’s no need to peel or de-seed. I like to cut it length-wise in quarters and then chop. Parmesan– Look for “shaved” parmesan for this recipe, which is different than shredded. The large, flat pieces work better as an add-in, adding both flavor and texture to the salad. You could also use a vegetable peeler to shave your own off a wedge of fresh parmesan. You can generally find small tubs of shaved fresh parm in either the cheese section of the deli, or in the refrigerated cheese aisle of the grocery store. Seeds– I’ve made this salad with both pumpkin and sunflower seeds and both are great.
Instructions
The printed recipe provides detailed instructions on how to mix up the Honey Basil Vinaigrette, and also 2 different methods of charring your corn (on the bbq grill, or over a gas stovetop). From there you simply combine all the ingredients and just toss it up together! This Blueberry Corn salad makes a great side dish, but I also really love it as a main dish, paired with a protein like grilled chicken or steak. I like to drizzle a little extra vinaigrette over the meat- it’s such a fantastic pairing! What Pasta should I use? I mentioned I’ve made this recipe with a few different pasta options. Though originally planned for orzo, I think my favorite is actually orecchiette, which translated means “little ear” as you can see from the shape! One of the reasons I love this pasta is because it’s the perfect size to grab a kernel of corn or a blueberry so it creates these great bites as you’re eating. It’s the perfect size for this dish. But if you can’t find orecchiette, don’t let that stop you from making this salad. Orzo works great, as does a mini bowtie or any other pasta shape about that same size.
Make it a meal
Pair this salad with one of the following for a great summer meal! Smoked Tri Tip Roast Lemon-Garlic Rubbed Chicken Fresh Squeezed Lemonade Easy, Overnight Artisan Bread
