We all know corn on the cob is a summertime classic, but what about corn OFF the cob? Let’s face it, it’s not the cob we’re interested in when it comes to this sweet summer veggie. The corn kernels are the bright yellow flavor bombs that we look forward to gnawing at when it comes down to it. So why don’t we take the cob out of the equation and get down to the good stuff, shall we? Here are 15 fun, delicious ways to enjoy corn off the cob.

1. Corn and Avocado Salad

   Salads in the summer taste best when they’re made with chilled veggies! That goes especially for this salad featuring grilled corn kernels, avocado, poblano, and red onion. This dish is essentially summer in a bowl.

2. Linguine with Red Pesto and Corn

   For a fresh take on a winter comfort food (linguine and alfredo sauce, of course), make this linguine with spicy red pesto and corn instead. The neutral backdrop of the linguine serves as a perfect palette for the bite of red pesto and the sweetness of the corn kernels in a surprising way to serve pasta this summer.

3. Sauteed Corn, Green Onions, and Shiitake Mushrooms

   Imagine this dish as stir-fry, but with a healthy, summertime twist! Saute your corn in a skillet with green onions, shiitake mushrooms, and flavorings like olive oil, Aleppo pepper, and sea salt. All the flavor of stir-fry with practically none of the calories or fats. That is a summertime win if we’ve ever seen one.

4. Grilled Romaine with Corn and a Creamy Anchovy Vinaigrette

   Somethings you would be surprised that you can grill – heads of romaine lettuce is probably one of those things. It seems weird, but this sheet meal with grilled romaine lettuce, corn kernels, and a creamy anchovy vinaigrette is a delicious explosion of flavor, as well as an extremely simple dinner to prepare.

5. Hatch Chile Corn Pudding

   This dessert has a tendency to take party guests by surprise. It’s not too hard to see why; the look and sound of “corn pudding” doesn’t seem very appetizing, we’ll admit it. But just give this hatch chile corn pudding one taste, and you’re guaranteed to be blown away by the unbelievable sweet and spicy taste.

6. Corn Semifreddo with Rosemary Shortbread Crust and Blueberry Compote

   If you’re officially hooked on corn pudding already, then you’ll want to take this summer dessert to the next level. This corn semifreddo (which is basically fancy talk for corn pudding) is nestled in a rosemary shortbread crust, and topped off with a sweet-as-summer blueberry compote. Your dinner guests won’t know what hit them.

7. Cold Veggie and Noodle Salad

   One of the headliner veggies in this cool summer salad with an Asian flare? You guessed it. Toss thick udon noodles with edamame beans, cabbage, cucumber, scallions, tofu, and of course, corn kernels. Top everything off with sharp ponzu dressing and you have a flavorful, refreshing salad.

8. Sweet Corn Polenta with Eggplant Dressing

   If you’re looking to get adventurous with summer flavors, this dish is for you. Polenta is a cornmeal, typically used in Italian cooking, that can be made with dry goods or fresh veggies – fresh corn, for instance. Corn kernels, in this case, bring an extra-sweet flavor to the cornmeal base, which is topped off with a savory eggplant sauce to die for.

9. Roasted Corn and Bacon Dip

   Put away the spinach and artichoke dip for a stormy winter night – summer deserves this refreshing dip instead! Combine the sweetness of corn and the smokiness of bacon for the best flavors of summer in one crave-able dip. You’ll want to dunk whatever you can your hands on in this stuff, we guarantee it.

10. Honeyed Sweet Cornbread

    We can’t forget a corn kernel classic: cornbread. Few sweet treats naturally give us the feeling of mom’s comfort-style, homemade cooking like corn bread does. Toss your boxed recipe aside and opt for this homemade alternative, drenched in sweet honey and smothered in melted butter. Hungry yet?

11. Crab and Corn Chowder

    Soup? In the summer? It seems counter-intuitive, but this seafood chowder is bursting with the fresh flavors of crab and corn – and when you have seafood and corn on the cob in one dish, what else could you possibly need?

12. Slow Cooker Pasta with Corn and Tomatoes

    This dish is a simple, sneaky summer favorite to have up your sleeve for when you just cannot force yourself to tend to a skillet. This easy slow-cooker recipe combines sweet corn, savory roasted tomatoes, and a little kick with some garlic confit, all in a simple recipe that be cooked without a watchful eye.

13. Tomato Salad with Corn, Squash, and Roasted Onions

    Food52

    There’s a lot of yellow going on in this dish – and we’re loving it. Nothing screams summer freshness like this chilled tomato salad with corn kernels, summer squash, and roasted onions. Most of these veggies are about to go out of season, so make this dish quick, before it’s too late!

14. Sriracha-Lime Corn Salad

    Food52

    If these sweet summer salads are bit too bland for you, it sounds like you need something with a little more heat. Look no further than this sriracha-lime corn salad. Minced red bell pepper and corn kernels make up the base of this salad, which is covered in a spicy sriracha seasoning and finished with a complimentary dash of lime for extra zest.

15. Corn Fritters with Cheddar and Scallions

    Just looking at this picture is enough to make you salivate! Whip out your cast iron skillet to fry up some of these tender fritters, made with corn, cheddar cheese, and a dash of scallions for biting flavor. This is everything you’ve wanted out of summer fried food all in a simple home cooked meal.

Thanks to Food52 for these inspirational corn kernel recipes! Do you prepare corn kernels in a creative way? Share your recipes in the comments section below.