Fresh Corn and Tomato Salad
on Aug 01, 2022, Updated Sep 03, 2024
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With only 10-ingredients, raw corn kernels sliced straight off the cob are the base of this fresh corn and tomato salad. It is the perfect way to enjoy peak summer produce. All you have to do is whisk together a garlicky white wine vinaigrette and then give the corn kernels and quartered tomatoes a chance to marinate. Then finish the salad with chopped parsley and scallions.
For another marinated summer produce recipe, try this balsamic tomato peach salad.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Corn and tomatoes are two of the best parts of summer. This says a lot when there are so many things to get excited about this time of the year. Since corn and tomatoes are perfect right now, you can skip cooking them completely and stay cool.
You keep everything fresh and raw and rely on the tasty marinade/dressing. A simple garlic vinaigrette is all you need to bring this 10-ingredient recipe together and call it a salad. It will spend more time marinating than you will actually prepping it. Done and done.
If you’ve never eaten raw sweetcorn, you will love it. Besides saving cooking time, raw corn kernels are more crisp and juicy than cooked ones. If you decide to do it this way, it’s essential that you find the freshest corn possible considering you don’t have the taste of the smoky char from the grill.
Tips for Buying Corn
Look for tightly wrapped husks. They help the kernels retain their moisture and stay fresh. Avoid corn where other shoppers have peeled back the tops of the husks because the kernels dry out.
Touch the silk at the end. It should be a little bit damp.
Buy an extra ear or two. You can never have too much corn, at least I don’t think so! They can be your insurance policy just in case you get to your kitchen and you end up with a less than perfect ear.
How To Slice Corn Off the Cob
You just need a sharp chef’s knife and a cutting board. The blade will take the kernels right off as you slice down. You can buy a gadget that’s sole purpose is to strip ears of corn, but I think a knife that’s already in your drawer does the job, so no need to buy another kitchen tool.
The Ingredients
This is what you need:
- Corn: You have to use fresh sweetcorn. Do not substitute with canned corn. The salad won’t have the same texture and crispness.
- Tomatoes: Small varieties like cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes are the best. If you only have big tomatoes, dice them, but be aware that then the salad will have more liquid from the tomato flesh.
- Scallions are probably my favorite salad onion because they basically act like green onions and fresh herbs. Finely minced red onions are a good substitute.
- Parsley: Along with the scallions, I add herby chopped parsley.
- Olive oil: Use your best extra virgin olive oil.
- White wine vinegar is the acid in the vinaigrette. You can also use red wine vinegar or champagne vinegar.
- Garlic: A single minced clove gives the salad enough garlic flavor.
- Red pepper flakes: Just a pinch adds a touch of subtle heat.
- Kosher salt & black pepper season the vinaigrette and the overall salad.
Optional Additions
- Leafy greens: Baby arugula, spinach and chopped romaine are all fantastic in this salad. Just wait to add them until right when you are about to serve the salad, so they don’t get soggy.
- Avocado: It’s pretty impossible not to think about avocado when you pair tomatoes and corn together. You can dice an avocado and stir it in too.
- Cucumbers: Diced cucumbers are always good with tomatoes and corn in a salad. My preference are English cucumbers or Persian cucumbers because their skin is more delicate, and they have less seeds.
- Walnuts: If you’re looking for more to crunch on, add chopped toasted walnuts.
Variations
Swap out the parsley and white wine vinegar and use cilantro and lime juice instead. For this more Tex-Mex version, avocados are an absolute must. Also throw in a minced jalapeños and red bell peppers.
How To Make This Fresh Corn and Tomato Salad
1. Make the vinaigrette. Combine the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper in a bowl that’s big enough to hold the entire salad.
2. Stir in the corn, tomatoes and the white parts of the scallions. Marinate the salad for 30 minutes.
3. Add the scallions greens and parsley.
4. Stir the salad together.
Serving
You can serve this corn tomato salad recipe on its own as is, but don’t hesitate to add greens to go more salad than side dish. It is wonderful for a picnic or a potluck. Another option is to spoon the tomatoes and corn over grilled or roasted chicken or fish. Then you are treating it like a summer sauce or salsa-type topping for a protein.
Leftovers & Storage
You can keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days. The scallion greens and parsley may lose some of their freshness. It is up to you if you want to slice or chop more and stir them in before serving. I also like to let the salad sit out at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving it to lose some of that chill from the fridge.
Recipe Tips
Use the best tomatoes and corn you can find. How good this salad turns out totally depends on the quality of the ingredients.
This is not a recipe to make off-season. We all know that you can find pretty much any vegetable at the grocery no matter the time of year, but out-of-season fruits and veggies do not taste as good.
Don’t skip the marinating time. That 30 minutes is when the ingredients have a chance to develop their flavors and meld with the dressing.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Fresh corn off the cob is crunchy, juicy and safe to eat. But it’s even more important to find corn that is fresh and in perfect condition when you’re not cooking it.
Besides salads, raw corn is great in salsas and dips. I wouldn’t hesitate to add it to cooked grains too. Remember you can always eat it raw off the cob.
More Fresh Tomato Recipes
Heirloom Tomato Mozzarella Salad
Marinated Cherry Tomatoes
Green Bean Tomato Olive Salad
Peach Tomato Salad
Caprese Salad
Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta Pasta Salad
Caprese Bruschetta
Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad
Find more salad ideas in my seasonal salad roundup featuring leafy green salads, bean salads and pasta salads.
Let me know if you if you try this raw corn salad with tomatoes. Please leave a comment and rating below. Thanks!
Fresh Corn Tomato Salad
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 ears corn kernels sliced off
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, quartered
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced, white and green parts separated
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.
- Stir the corn kernels, tomatoes and white scallions into the vinaigrette.
- Let the tomatoes and corn marinate for 30 minutes.
- Stir in the scallions greens and parsley before serving.
Notes
- Greens such as baby arugula or spinach or chopped romaine
- Diced avocados
- Diced cucumbers
- Chopped walnuts
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
