Fresh, Colourful and Full of Flavour
The original Natural Health Kingdom recipe was designed to be flexible, using vegetables that are fresh and available at your local farmers’ market. That is one of the things worth keeping: you can adapt the dish to what looks best on the day.
It is also quick to prepare and works well as a side dish for a barbecue, picnic or family meal.
Corn confetti recipe – At a glance
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: About 10 minutes
Total time: About 20 minutes
Serves: 4–6 as a side dish
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 small jalapeño, deseeded and finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2/3 cup red onion, chopped
- 1 orange or red bell pepper, chopped into small pieces
- 5 ears of corn, kernels removed from the cobs
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
- 2 tbsp chopped chives
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
How to make Farmers’ Market Corn Confetti
1. Prepare the vegetables
Remove the kernels from the corn and chop the onion, pepper, jalapeño, parsley and chives.
If you prefer less heat, remove all the seeds and white membrane from the jalapeño, or leave the jalapeño out altogether.
2. Cook the aromatics
Heat half of the coconut oil in a large frying pan over medium heat.
Add the jalapeño, garlic and red onion.
Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften.
3. Add the pepper
Add the chopped bell pepper and cook for another 3 minutes.
4. Add the corn
Add the remaining coconut oil and the corn kernels.
Season with salt and pepper and cook for about 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
The corn should be cooked through while still retaining some texture. Fresh corn can vary, so let the texture and flavour guide you rather than relying only on the clock.
5. Finish with the herbs
Remove the pan from the heat and stir through the parsley and chives.
Taste and adjust the seasoning.
Serve warm.
Easy variations
This recipe was originally designed to be adaptable, so feel free to make it your own.
You could try:
More heat: Add a little more jalapeño or a pinch of chilli flakes.
More colour: Use a mixture of red, yellow and orange peppers.
Fresh and zesty: Add a little fresh lime juice just before serving.
Extra herbs: Substitute coriander or add a little alongside the parsley.
More substantial: Stir in black beans for a more filling side dish.
Make it ahead
This is a useful make-ahead dish for a picnic, barbecue or busy family meal.
Cook the corn mixture, allow it to cool, then cover and refrigerate promptly.
Reheat thoroughly before serving hot, or serve chilled or at room temperature if that suits the meal.
Do not leave cooked food at room temperature for extended periods, particularly in warm weather.
What to serve it with
Farmers’ Market Corn Confetti works well alongside:
- grilled chicken
- fish
- grilled vegetables
- beans or pulses
- tacos and other Mexican-inspired dishes
- a simple green salad
It can also be served as part of a larger spread of vegetables and salads.
Why keep a recipe like this?
There is nothing magical about the ingredients, and that is precisely the point.
Corn, peppers, onion, herbs and garlic are ordinary foods that can contribute flavour, colour and nutrients to a varied diet.
Rather than labelling a recipe “healthy” and leaving it at that, it is more useful to look at how the dish fits into the meal as a whole.
The bottom line
Farmers’ Market Corn Confetti is a quick, colourful side dish that makes good use of fresh vegetables and can easily be adapted to whatever is in season.
It is simple enough for a weeknight meal but attractive enough for a barbecue or picnic.
Fresh ingredients, straightforward cooking and plenty of flexibility — sometimes that is all a good recipe needs.
Recipe Notes
The recipe is adapted from the original Natural Health Kingdom article Healthy Farmers Market Corn Confetti.
The original ingredient list used coconut oil, jalapeño, garlic, red onion, bell pepper, fresh corn, parsley, chives, salt and pepper. The cooking method has been clarified and reorganised for modern recipe presentation while preserving the original ingredients and basic method.