Fresh & Flavorful Chopped BLT Salad with Grilled Corn and Homemade Basil Vinaigrette
Prepare to discover your new favorite summer salad! This Chopped BLT Salad with Corn is an absolute game-changer, combining the irresistible flavors of a classic BLT sandwich with the vibrant freshness of a substantial salad. What truly elevates this dish is its incredible herby basil vinaigrette – a bright, zesty dressing that you’ll want to drizzle over everything. Perfect for those warm weather days, this chopped salad is designed to be your go-to meal from late spring through early fall, bringing deliciousness and ease to your table time and time again.
The Ultimate Chopped BLT Salad with Corn: A Summer Must-Have
While a traditional BLT sandwich holds a special place in our hearts, imagine transforming those beloved flavors into a vibrant, satisfying salad. This isn’t just any salad; it’s a celebration of peak summer ingredients, bringing together crispy bacon, ripe tomatoes, crisp greens, and then taking it up a notch with the smoky sweetness of roasted corn and the creamy richness of chopped avocado. All these elements are beautifully bound by a homemade basil vinaigrette that is so flavorful, you might be tempted to enjoy it by the spoonful! It’s truly a dressing that ties all the fresh components into a cohesive, unforgettable experience.
This Chopped BLT Salad with Corn is incredibly versatile. It stands alone as a perfectly fulfilling main course, packed with protein and fresh vegetables to keep you energized. Alternatively, it serves as an exquisite side dish, complementing any grilled protein or summer barbecue spread. During this time of year, we often find ourselves firing up the grill on Sunday afternoons, preparing various entrees to enjoy throughout the week. This salad fits seamlessly into that routine, offering an easy-to-prepare, incredibly fresh, and undeniably tasty accompaniment that everyone will love. Its combination of textures and flavors makes it a delightful addition to any meal plan, promising bright, summery notes with every bite.
Crafting Your Chopped BLT Salad with Corn: Step-by-Step Guide
Creating this delightful Chopped BLT Salad with Corn is surprisingly simple, making it accessible for home cooks of all skill levels. The magic lies in the fresh, high-quality ingredients and a few straightforward steps that transform them into a harmonious and flavorful dish. You’ll start by preparing the key components – the corn, bacon, and that amazing basil vinaigrette – before bringing everything together in a large bowl. Here’s how to assemble this vibrant summer sensation:
- Grill Your Corn to Perfection: For the most intense flavor and a delightful hint of summer char, we highly recommend grilling your corn on the cob. Grilling brings out the natural sugars in the corn, giving it an unparalleled sweetness and a slight smokiness that’s simply irresistible. If grilling isn’t an option, or if time is a constraint, a quick boil or even roasting in the oven can work, though you might miss out on that smoky char. Boiling is a good alternative to remove some starch and slightly soften the kernels. The beauty is that you can prepare your corn in advance, making meal prep a breeze. Once cooked and cooled, simply slice the kernels from the cob and set them aside.
- Prepare Your Crispy Bacon: No BLT is complete without perfectly cooked bacon. Choose your favorite variety, whether it’s thick-cut, regular, or even a turkey bacon option if you prefer. Fry it in a pan until it reaches your desired level of crispiness – golden brown and utterly delicious. For easier cleanup and consistent results, you can also bake bacon in the oven. Once cooked, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess grease, then allow it to cool completely. Once cool, roughly chop the bacon into bite-sized pieces, ensuring a satisfying crunch in every forkful of salad.
- Whip Up the Basil Vinaigrette: This homemade vinaigrette is the heart and soul of this chopped salad. It boasts a unique flavor profile that’s often described as a delightful fusion of a vibrant chimichurri sauce and a fresh, aromatic pesto. Its herbaceous, tangy, and slightly sweet notes perfectly complement the richness of the bacon and avocado, and the sweetness of the corn. We’ll delve into the specifics of making this dressing in more detail below, but rest assured, it’s incredibly easy and immensely rewarding.
- Assemble the Salad Components: Once your corn and bacon are ready and the vinaigrette is made, it’s time for assembly. Grab a large salad bowl and add your choice of fresh greens – romaine for crunch, spring mix for a tender texture, or even hearty kale for added nutrients. To the greens, add the roughly chopped bacon, the sweet grilled corn kernels, ripe grape tomatoes (halved for easier eating), and generously diced avocado. The key to a truly “chopped” salad is ensuring all ingredients are cut into similar, manageable sizes, allowing you to get a bit of everything in each bite.
- Toss and Serve: Pour a generous amount of your freshly made basil vinaigrette over the salad ingredients. Toss everything gently but thoroughly until all the components are evenly coated in that luscious dressing. If you enjoy a creamy, salty addition, now is the time to sprinkle in some crumbled feta cheese. For those avoiding dairy, the salad is just as delicious without it. Serve immediately and prepare to be amazed!
One of the best aspects of this chopped salad is its efficiency; you can easily prepare it from start to finish in about 20-30 minutes. If you’re looking to save even more time on a busy day, many components of this recipe are excellent for advance preparation. Grilling the sweet corn, cooking and chopping the bacon, and preparing the basil vinaigrette are all steps that can be done a day or two ahead of time, significantly cutting down on your assembly time.
To ensure maximum freshness and prevent ingredients from becoming soggy, we recommend holding off on adding the diced avocado and crumbled cheese (if using) until just before you’re ready to toss the salad with the Basil Vinaigrette and serve. This ensures the avocado remains vibrant and the cheese maintains its texture.
Mastering the Homemade Basil Vinaigrette
The basil vinaigrette isn’t just a dressing for this specific salad; it’s a versatile culinary staple you’ll want to keep on hand throughout the warmer months. Its bright, herbaceous, and tangy profile makes it incredibly delicious over a variety of dishes, from grilled meats and fish to pasta salads, roasted vegetables, or even as a flavorful marinade. Once you experience how easy it is to make and how much flavor it adds, we promise this dressing will become a regular in your kitchen, gracing many of your summer meals.
Crafting this vibrant vinaigrette is incredibly simple, requiring just a few fresh ingredients and a blender. To a blender, add one roughly chopped shallot for a delicate oniony flavor, two to three garlic cloves (feel free to adjust to your personal taste – measure with your heart!), two cups of tightly packed fresh basil leaves for that intense herbaceous aroma, a generous half cup of good quality olive oil, two tablespoons of red wine vinegar for tang, and then season with a teaspoon of salt and half a teaspoon of pepper, adjusting to taste. For those who appreciate a subtle kick, a few pinches of red pepper flakes can be added. Simply pulse until all ingredients are thoroughly combined and the mixture is smooth and emulsified. The result is a vibrant green, fragrant dressing that will transform any dish.
This vinaigrette is also fantastic for meal prepping. You can easily make a batch in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. However, olive oil tends to solidify when chilled, which can impact the texture and full flavor profile of the dressing. To ensure you enjoy its full, glorious taste and smooth consistency, remember to remove it from the refrigerator about 20 minutes before serving. This allows the olive oil to return to room temperature, liquefy, and blend seamlessly with the other ingredients, releasing all its incredible flavors.
Other Irresistible Summer Side Salads to Explore
While this Chopped BLT Salad with Corn might just become your ultimate summer favorite, the season is full of opportunities to explore other fresh and vibrant side dishes. These recipes complement grilled meals beautifully or can simply brighten up any lunch or dinner. Here are a few more delicious summer salad ideas to add to your rotation:
- Charred Corn Caprese Salad
- Strawberry Spring Salad with Goat Cheese
- Zesty Radish Slaw
- Brussels Sprouts Salad with Bacon
Chopped BLT Salad with Corn
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Ingredients
Basil Vinaigrette
- 1 shallot, roughly chopped
- 2-3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- 2 cups tightly packed fresh basil leaves
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, to taste – optional
Chopped BLT Salad with Corn
- 3 ears corn – husks and silks removed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8- ounce package bacon, cooked to package directions and roughly chopped
- 4 cups salad greens of choice – romaine, kale, spring mix, etc.
- 1/2 pint grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 large avocado, diced
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/4-1/2 cup Basil Vinaigrette
Instructions
Basil Vinaigrette
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To a blender add shallot, garlic cloves, basil leaves, olive oil and red wine vinegar. Blend for 1-2 minutes until smooth. Taste test and add salt and pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste. Serve immediately or refrigerate 4-5 days. If making in advance, make sure to remove from refrigerator 20-ish minutes before serving.
Chopped BLT Salad with Corn
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Heat a grill pan over medium high heat and add oil. Place the Dandy® Sweet Corn in the pan and allow the corn to char for 4-5 minutes, turning every minute or so. Remove from heat and cool. Once cooled, cut corn away from cobs and set aside.
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Prepare bacon according to package directions. Once cooled, roughly chop and set aside.
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To a large bowl add salad greens, halved tomatoes, diced avocado and feta cheese. Pour in vinaigrette and toss to combine. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
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