Summer Farm Stand Salsa

Here is a really easy, delicious and crowd-pleasing dish.  It’s colorful and terrific for any type of bash.  One of the tricks is to use choice ingredients, ideally from a farm stand.  Especially fresh corn, heirloom tomatoes, limes and ripe hass avocados.

As for the jalapenos, be sure to use gloves while handling.  If ya’ choose not to.  Maybe you’re a type A person and in a rush?  Your tender skin will get burnt.  A burn that hurts like a son-of-a gun.  Not that I have ever done anything like that before.

Don’t be like me…. wear gloves or handle with a paper towel.  Protection is a must.

Warning over, let’s get our Summer Salsa on.

Ingredients

• 1 ripe avocado, cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 1 ripe red tomato, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 1 ear sweet corn, shucked
• 1 scallion, both white and green parts, trimmed and finely chopped, or 3 tablespoons diced sweet onion
• 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 to 2 jalapeño peppers or serrano peppers, seeded and minced (for a hotter salsa, leave the seeds in)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• Coarse salt (kosher or sea) and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

1. Place the avocado in the bottom of a nonreactive mixing bowl and gently toss it with 2 tablespoons of the lime juice. Spoon the tomato on top of the avocado.

2. Cut the kernels off the corn. The easiest way to do this is to lay the cob flat on a cutting board and remove the kernels using lengthwise strokes of a chef’s knife. Add the corn kernels to the mixing bowl. The salsa can be prepared to this stage up to 2 hours ahead. Refrigerate it, covered.

3. Just before serving, add the jalapeño(s) and cilantro to the mixing bowl and gently toss to mix.  Taste for seasoning, adding more lime juice as necessary and season with salt and pepper to taste; the salsa should be highly seasoned.

Have a terrific weekend Friends,