Fresh Corn Salad

From: Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, and Food Network.com

It doesn't get much easier than this quick salad/side dish. I first tried it at my friend Amy's house, and was amazed when she gave me the recipe that it was so simple. I think the secret is fresh ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 5 ears of corn
  
• 1/2 cup finely diced red onion (1 small onion)
  
• 3 Tbsp of good olive oil
• 3 Tbsp of cider vinegar
  
• 1/2 cup basil, chopped juilenne style
  
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
  

Serves: 4-6

Steps:

1. Shuck and steam the ears of corn in a large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, about 3 minutes. Remove from pot and run under cold water to cool.
2. Using a large knife, cut the corn from the cob when it is cool, cutting close to the cob. Put into a large bowl. Add the olive oil & vinegar and toss. Add sea salt and pepper to taste.
   
3. Just before serving, cut basil and add to the dish, mix gently.

Notes: I like to add tomatoes (any kind work, but vine-ripe cut into bite-sized triangles) to this recipe. Also, it is really just as good with 1-2 Tbsp of olive oil only, if you don't have the vinegar and want to cut back on the dressing.

See also: My friend Paula's variation on this dish, with avocado and slightly different dressing, or my variation adding avocado & black beans.