Roasted Zucchini, Corn and Bulgur Salad

By Alexandra Caspero on July 10, 2017

Let’s eat summer! Which is exactly what I feel like saying most nights for dinner.

I feel a little bad that I’ve been slacking on traditional ‘recipe’ posts. To be honest, my notebook is filled with ideas, thoughts and inspiration from our recent travels. Things I’m so excited to make and experiment with, especially now that we are in the height of summer produce. I promise, my intentions are there.

But then I get into the kitchen and don’t feel like doing much. Simple (…some might call it #basic) wins out and my innovative recipe daydreams turn into another grain bowl or salad. I can’t decide yet if this is a good thing or a bad thing.

I know many of you appreciate my unfussy approach to food. The recipes I post here come directly out of my kitchen. If I wouldn’t serve it to my family, I won’t serve it to you. I love that you understand how good food doesn’t need to be complicated; it just needs to taste delicious. Really, that’s all I want. To showcase that whole-food, mostly plant-based, can be incredibly yummy and nourishing.

But there’s always that twinge of needing to push the envelope. To stretch my ability as a recipe developer and provide constant inspiration to you as well. So, forgive me for not balancing that act as much as I’d like.

I’ve got a lot more salads and simple summer meals coming down the pipeline. They aren’t fancy and they likely won’t win any recipe awards, but they are real. And they are perfect for this glorious Farmer’s Market season that we are in now. Grab a ton of produce, fuss it up just a little and serve. That probably will be my motto from now until September.

Roasted Zucchini, Corn And Bulgur Salad With Lemon Dressing. This Healthy Side Dish Is Perfect For Summer, Potlucks And Cookouts. Vegan | Delishknowledge.com

I’ve mentioned before how much I like roasted produce that I even bore myself. So, if you’re already on the roasting-vegetable train, you understand.

However, it’s worth repeating for the 87,000 time for those of you who aren’t. If you don’t think you love zucchini, try it this way. Roasting is king when it comes to preparing most vegetables (and fruits!)

Drizzle on some olive oil, throw in a single layer on a baking sheet and cook until perfectly tender and slightly caramelized. I could eat an entire tray all be myself. Sometimes I do. Which perfectly sums up what I meant in the beginning of this story by declaring that we should eat summer. Roast some vegetables, slice up some fruit and call it a day. It’s too pretty outside to be standing in a hot kitchen.

When produce is this yummy, you don’t need to do much.

Roasted Zucchini, Corn And Bulgur Salad With Lemon Dressing. This Healthy Side Dish Is Perfect For Summer, Potlucks And Cookouts. Vegan | Delishknowledge.com

From there, we follow the rule, if it grows together, it goes together. 

Fresh corn? Yes. Halved heirloom tomatoes? Yassss. We make it a meal by adding in cooked bulgur wheat, my nod to a favorite dish this time of year, tabbouleh.

The dressing is nothing more than good quality olive oil, lemon juice and smoked paprika. With fresh mint thrown in for good measure. Toss that all together and you’ve got the perfect, produce-rich salad to take with you anywhere you are headed this time of year. It works for potlucks, vacations, cookouts, you name it.

Thankfully, it also works for lazy Monday nights when you don’t feel like doing much but letting summer produce shine.

Shine on.

Roasted Zucchini, Corn And Bulgur Salad With Lemon Dressing. This Healthy Side Dish Is Perfect For Summer, Potlucks And Cookouts. Vegan | Delishknowledge.comRoasted Zucchini, Corn And Bulgur Salad With Lemon Dressing. This Healthy Side Dish Is Perfect For Summer, Potlucks And Cookouts. Vegan | Delishknowledge.com

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag your Instagram photos with #delishknowledge . I absolutely love seeing your creations. Happy cooking! 

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Roasted Zucchini, Corn And Bulgur Salad With Lemon Dressing. This Healthy Side Dish Is Perfect For Summer, Potlucks And Cookouts. Vegan | Delishknowledge.com

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Roasted Zucchini, Corn And Bulgur Salad With Lemon Dressing. This Healthy Side Dish Is Perfect For Summer, Potlucks And Cookouts. Vegan | Delishknowledge.com

Roasted Zucchini, Corn and Bulgur Salad

Description

Roasted Zucchini, Corn and Bulgur Salad with Lemon Dressing. This healthy side dish is perfect for summer, potlucks and cookouts. Vegan. 


Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 cup bulgur wheat
  • 3 ears fresh corn, shucked and kernels removed
  • 4 medium zucchini, sliced
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (I love the heirloom variety from Trader Joe’s)
  • 1 lemon, zest and juice
  • 3 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
  • 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (or more, depending on taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Place bulgur wheat and 2 cups water in a medium size pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until bulgur is tender and cooked through. Remove from heat and cool. 
  2. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Toss the corn kernels with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper, then place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Toss the sliced zucchini with remaining 1/2 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper, then place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast until tender, 20-25 minutes. 
  3. Place the cooked bulgur, roasted zucchini and corn in a large bowl. Add in the halved cherry tomatoes, olive oil, lemon zest, juice, mint, paprika and salt and pepper. Toss well until combined, season to taste as needed. 
  4. Serve immediately or keep at room temperature until ready to serve. 

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Roasted Zucchini, Corn And Bulgur Salad With Lemon Dressing. This Healthy Side Dish Is Perfect For Summer, Potlucks And Cookouts. Vegan | Delishknowledge.com

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Meet Alex Caspero

Alex Caspero is a Registered Dietitian, New York Times Bestselling Chef, and mom of two. She aims to cut through the nutrition noise by providing real-life, nourishing tips for body and mind. Learn more about Alex.

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    1. Lisa
      June 4, 2023 AT 10:42 am

      Great salad! I had some extra veg to use up so i added a bell pepper and red onion to the zucchini to roast. I also just thawed a bag of frozen corn to use because I did not have fresh. It worked perfectly. Finally, I used a key lime infused olive oil in the dressing which really took this over the top! We’ve been eating it for lunch on a bed of lettuce, adding cucumber and topping with bbq chicken.






    2. Steve Grodsky
      July 15, 2017 AT 8:23 am

      Alex, I definitely see cherry tomatoes in the picture but not in the recipe itself. What is the story?

      1. Alex
        July 15, 2017 AT 9:32 am

        Ah! The story is that I have major baby brain and forgot about including them 😉 Just added them now- I like them best raw tossed in at the end, but I suppose you could add them to the zucchini pan during the last few minutes of cooking if you wanted them softer.

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