Corn salsa is a perfect summer salsa when corn is in season. Many corn salsa recipes call for cilantro, but for a lot of people, cilantro is not delicious. But you can make corn salsa without cilantro! This corn salsa recipe has no cilantro and instead uses another herb: basil.
Basil is among the herbs that you can use to substitute for cilantro in a corn salsa recipe. Other substitutes for cilantro in salsa, include chives, dill, or parsley.
How to Make Corn Salsa Without Cilantro
First, start by cooking your corn to perfection. Boil a large pot of water with an ample amount of salt (about a tablespoon) and then add your corn cobs. This easy corn salsa recipe uses 4 corn cobs to yield about 3 cups of fresh corn.
Only boil your fresh corn cobs briefly, definitely not too long. Boil them long enough for them to turn a deeper yellow and soften a bit, but not too soft. Boiling corn cobs for 5 minutes is about perfect.
Once you’ve cooked your corn cobs, then remove the kernels with a sharp knife. Hold the cobs vertically and simply use the knife to cut strips of the corn kernels off, getting close to the cob as you cut.
Next prepare your other main ingredients. Finely slice 1/2 of a red onion and two jalapeños.
Want to make your own fresh tortilla chips to go along with corn salsa dip? Try a Homemade Tortilla Chip recipe!
Mixing Corn Salsa Without Using Cilantro
The last phase of making corn salsa is very easy. You’re going to simply blend the ingredients.
Add the corn and chopped onions and jalapeños to a medium size mixing bowl. Next add the spices of 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon cumin, and 1/4 teaspoon red chili pepper.
Using a lemon/lime squeezer, squeeze two limes to add lime juice into the mixture. Use a large spoon to gently stir all of the ingredients together until they are well combined.
Then finely chop several leaves of basil. One easy way to chop them is to roll them up together, and then finely chopped them. Add about 2 tablespoons of finely chopped basil into the corn salsa.
Basil not only is a good substitute for cilantro because of its flavor, but it also because it adds the same beautiful green color that makes the corn salsa dip a colorful dish.
How to Serve Corn Salsa With No Cilantro
Perhaps the most common way to serve corn salsa is to serve it as a corn salsa dip. You can use corn or flour tortilla chips or toasted pita slices with the dip.
You can also use corn salsa without cilantro as a relish. You can use it to top a burger or a hotdog, for example, or use it in a quesadilla.
Looking for a fresh side? Also try: Fresh fruit with Watermelon Vinaigrette
Corn Salsa With No Cilantro
Equipment
- 1 large pot for boiling water
- medium size mixing bowl
- serving bowl
- lemon/lime juicer
Ingredients
- 3 teaspoon salt
- 4 cobs of corn
- ½ red onion
- 2 jalapenos
- 2 limes
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon chili pepper
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped basil
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Add 2½ teaspoons of salt. Boil corn cobs for about 5 minutes until they are warmed and a brighter yellow. Be careful not to overcook.
- Remove the cobs from the water and cut off the corn kernels using a knife. To cut the kernels, hold the cobs vertically and cut off the kernels in strips. 4 corn cobs should yield about 3 cups of corn.
- Finely chop 1/2 of a red onion. Finely chop 2 jalapenos, removing the seeds and stem. Add the corn, onion and jalapenos to the bowl.
- Use the lemon/lime juicer to juice two limes and add the juice to the bowl. Add ½ teaspoon of salt, ¼ teaspoon cumin and ¼ teaspoon red chili pepper to the bowl and mix.
- Add 2 tablespoons of finely chopped basil to the corn salsa and mix. Transfer the salsa to a serving bowl and serve with chips or pita slices.
So flavorful I don’t even miss the cilantro.