Corn and Garbanzo Bean Salad
Fresh Corn and Garbanzo Salad
I picked up some beautiful sweet corn recently. It is coming into season here. Fresh, local sweet corn is one of life’s perfect foods. I am content to boil, steam or grill an ear of corn and just add some salt and butter.
Today, I decided to make a salad with some of the corn I got. As much as I love eating corn right off the cob, it can be messy. A salad makes it easier for me to serve corn to guests.
I added stuff I already had, and what I thought would work with the fresh corn. I had been out of town for a few days and wanted to use some things up, too.
After cooking the corn and cutting it off the cob, I added roasted red peppers and garbanzo beans. I used red peppers that were actually a medium hot pepper. I think they added a nice heat to the salad. You could use sweet peppers, instead. Cilantro, sweet onions and a simple dressing and I was done.
It really is good. It makes a nice side salad, or could even be a vegetarian main dish.
Fresh Corn Salad with Garbanzo Beans
6 ears of corn
1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
2 red peppers, roasted, skinned and seeded, chopped*
1 medium sweet onion, diced
1/4 c. chopped fresh cilantro
Dressing:
1/2 c. oil
1/2 c. cider vinegar
2 T. sugar- or 1 T. honey
1 T. hot sauce
2 t. cumin
1 t. paprika
salt and pepper to taste
Cook corn, cool and cut off the cob. Place corn kernels in a bowl and combine with the remaining veggies and cilantro. Combine dressing ingredients and pour over the corn mixture. Stir to combine well and chill before serving. Serves 6-8.
*Here is the information on how to roast peppers. I used medium hot red peppers for this recipe, but sweet peppers would be fine, too. I just placed the peppers on the open flame on my gas stove, turning them until blackened all over. Once the peppers are charred, remove the peppers from the flame and wrap in paper towels or place in a small paper bag to cool. When cooled the skins will slip off easily. Then just remove the seeds and chop. If you don’t have a gas stove you can also roast peppers on a grill or under the broiler.
