Today is one of those nice days where a lot of people I love are together under one roof. My in-laws are visiting, and my brother and his wife are passing through town with our favorite nephew (also, yes, only nephew). I got to putter around in the garden for a while, sneaking up on weeds and picking ingredients for this salad while my mother-in-law, who is an amazing cook, made the rest of the meal.
I know I once said I couldn’t tolerate a one-color meal, but it turns out that maybe I can if the color is springtime green. I wish that I had taken a picture of it all together, but you will just have to imagine how lovely the table looked with this salad alongside a bright green pea-and-basil soup and followed by an equally brilliant avocado mousse. So green!
The top left picture below is the creamy cilantro and sweet corn dressing that I used for the salad. It’s just corn, cilantro, lime, and salt, but it has such a creamy texture and bright, sweet flavor that I’m already thinking about how else I’m going to use it this summer. Suggestions, as always, are warmly welcomed–you guys have such good ideas, thank you for sharing them!
Quinoa Salad with Radishes, Peas, Arugula, and Cilantro-Sweet Corn Dressing: First make quinoa by combining 1 c. quinoa with 2 c. water and a couple pinches of salt in a small pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer for 15 minutes, then remove from the heat and put a towel under the pot’s lid to absorb some more moisture as you work on the rest of the salad. After 10 minutes or so, transfer quinoa to a salad bowl, fluffing with a fork occasionally to help it cool.
Make dressing by combining 3 c. fresh (or frozen and defrosted) corn kernels in a blender with a big handful of cilantro, chopped, the juice of a large lime, and 1/2 tsp. kosher salt. (If you are using fresh corn, make sure to use the dull side of your knife blade to scrape the milk from the cobs into the blender, then break and toss the cobs into the freezer to use next time you make homemade vegetable stock.) Puree dressing until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides often, then taste and adjust flavor with more lime, salt, or cilantro.
Finely dice a big handful of radishes. Thinly slice a big handful of snap peas on the diagonal. Chop a big handful of chives and a double-big handful of arugula. Add all of these vegetables to the bowl with the quinoa, toss to combine, then add about half the dressing and toss again. Taste the salad, season with additional dressing and maybe another pinch of salt (unless you’re serving feta on top). Serve on a bed of lettuce, maybe drizzled with more dressing or sprinkled with some feta cheese.
Emmy Cooks 
Love the bright greens! Enjoy the time with your loved ones.
Thank you, I am really appreciating the chances we have to be together. I’ve also been thinking of you and your brother. Take care. xo
Gorgeous (as usual!)
Thank you! This was an attractive salad, which I know we share an appreciation for! :)
Spring-time green! That’s the name of the color I was searching for yesterday when I was lusting over some giant fava beans!
Favas are SO springtime green! Their lovely color almost makes up for the hassle of preparing them. :)
That dressing sounds creamy and divine. I’d love to pair it with thinly sliced Jicama and radishes for a crunch or even a fingerling potato salad. You’re so awesome with your creativity, I can’t wait to see what you come up with next.
Potato salad! Yes! That’s totally where this dressing is going next. Brilliant! (I might toss finely-chopped arugula into that as an herb as well.) :)
I love the color! It’s so pretty. The flavor combinations look amazing too. I wonder how a dollop of the dressing might be on top of a chilled, creamy corn soup . . .
Honestly, a big bowl of this dressing could BE a bowl of creamy corn soup. Hello, raw food enthusiasts! Try that out. :)
You always make me love radishes more. This looks so fresh and delicious!
I’m so glad. Radishes are one of the foods I have learned to love in recent years and now I think they are irreplaceable for crunch and flavor!
can’t wait to try this one … so green!
Meanwhile I’ll be making your fig-and-basil salad from yesterday, YUM!
I can’t wait to try that dressing Emmy! INSANE!
Seriously, once we’re getting more corn I am going to use it on everything!
DROOL
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That cilantro sweet corn dressing sounds fabulous!