Sweetcorn Feta Salad with Lime Chilli and Coriander
What to BBQ
Sweetcorn is toasted until lightly charred, then tossed with feta, red pepper, lime, chilli and coriander. It’s fresh, colourful and quick to prep, with enough salty crumble and citrus bite to balance smoky BBQ food.
500gsweetcorn kernelsfresh, frozen or drained tinned
150gfetacrumbled
1red pepperfinely diced
3spring onionsfinely sliced
1small red chillifinely chopped
20gfresh corianderroughly chopped
1limezested and juiced
1tbspcider vinegar
2tbspolive oil
1tspsmoked paprika
½tspground cumin
½tspfine sea salt
½tspcracked black pepper
1tsphoneyoptional
40gtoasted pumpkin seeds
Instructions
Toast the sweetcorn
Heat a large dry frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the sweetcorn and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring now and then, until some kernels are browned and lightly blistered. Don’t move it constantly. Let it catch a little.
Season while warm
Tip the hot corn onto a tray. Sprinkle over the smoked paprika, cumin, salt and pepper while it’s still warm. Toss lightly and leave it to cool for 10 minutes.
Make the lime dressing
In a large bowl, whisk together the lime zest, lime juice, cider vinegar, olive oil and honey if using. The honey is optional, and I only add it when the corn isn’t naturally sweet.
Build the salad
Add the cooled corn, red pepper, spring onions, chilli and coriander to the bowl. Fold everything through the lime dressing until the vegetables look glossy but not wet.
Add feta carefully
Crumble in the feta and fold once or twice. Don’t overmix or it’ll smear through the salad and mute the clean lime flavour.
Rest and finish
Chill for at least 1 hour. Just before serving, add the toasted pumpkin seeds and check the seasoning. A final squeeze of lime wakes it up if it has been in the fridge overnight.
Notes
Fresh corn cut from the cob gives the best pop, especially in late summer, but frozen sweetcorn is genuinely useful here. I thaw it, pat it dry and toast it hard in a hot pan. Tinned corn works too, though it needs draining well so the salad doesn’t taste tinny or watery.Feta should be crumbly rather than whipped or soft. You want little salty pieces dotted through the corn, not a creamy dressing. The pumpkin seeds are there for crunch, and they’re worth keeping separate until serving if you’re making the salad a full day ahead. Coriander brings that leafy citrus note, but parsley is fine for anyone who isn’t keen.