Grilled Summer Corn And Tomato Salad With Feta And Herbs

Celebrate the very best of the summer growing season with this fresh, bright, and sweet corn and tomato salad. Seasoned with fresh herbs, like mint and basil, and balanced with some creamy feta cheese — it’s what summertime (meal) memories are made of!

Corn and Tomato Salad in a serving bowl - 1

Let’s face it, this salad absolutely shines in the summer months. That’s when tomatoes are juicy and sweet, and fresh corn is crisp and full of flavor. Since they’re the side-by-side stars of this dish, using the freshest ingredients you can find makes all the difference — the salad simply won’t taste the same with out-of-season produce.

When everything is at its peak, the flavors pop in a way that feels effortless and sun-soaked. It’s the kind of salad that comes together quickly but tastes like something truly special, especially when the ingredients are doing the heavy lifting. Perfect for potlucks, patio meals, and every warm evening in between.

Key ingredients needed

Corn : Pick 3 ears of corn (using the tips below to select the best/freshest ones).
Balsamic vinegar : This will give the salad a tart, sweet taste and act as one of the base ingredients for your vinaigrette.
Herbs : Add 2 tablespoons each of chopped, fresh basil and mint. It gives this corn and tomato salad a sweet, fresh, and zesty pop.
Tomatoes : Use 1 lb of tomatoes, and slice them into chunks. Cutting them into larger pieces will help keep their shape in the salad (so that all the seeds and juices don’t just fall out).
Feta cheese : Sprinkle ¼ cup of feta cheese over the salad. The texture and salinity adds something truly wonderful to this salad!

Corn and Tomato Salad on a dinner plate - 2

How to pick a perfect tomato

We’ve all tried winter tomatoes. They’re just not good. But when it comes to tomato season, how do you know which tomato to pick? Here are a couple of signs to look for when choosing the perfect tomato:

Smell it : If you can smell that divine tomato smell, then you’re on the right track. Some tomatoes have no smell, which isn’t a good sign.
Feel it : It should feel weighty and uniform in your hand.
Look at it : The tomato will be shiny, and consistent in color (unless you’re picking heirloom tomatoes), and not have any blemishes or bruises.
Go local : If you have access to locally grown tomatoes, these will be garden-fresh and taste like a summer dream!

How to pick the perfect cob of corn

Beyond tomatoes, you also need to pick out a few nice cobs of corn for this recipe. Here are some top tips to pick the good ones:

Farmers’ market/local : If you can pick up some corn at the farmers’ market, you will have a high chance of getting yourself some sweet, sweet corn.
Grocery store : When shopping for corn at the grocery store, look for the green, tightly wrapped husks. Yellowing or dry husks are a bad sign. You can also feel the corn (without shucking it) to see if the kernels feel good and plentiful.

What type of tomatoes should I use for corn tomato salad?

No matter what type of tomato you’re using, fresh is best. We recommend using a larger variety of tomato since you want to cut them into big chunks. If you only have cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes on hand, simply cut them in half.

Can I use canned corn instead of fresh corn on the cob?

If you don’t have access to fresh ears of corn, you can use canned corn.

Can I use dry herbs instead of fresh herbs?

Using dried herbs instead of fresh herbs will detract from how fresh-tasting this salad is. If you’re in a pinch, however, you can substitute 1 teaspoon of dried herbs.

How to store corn and tomato salad

Store the salad in an airtight container in the fridge. It will last 2-3 days, before losing its texture and freshness.

Can I add protein to this corn tomato salad?

Absolutely! Grilled shrimp or chicken would be great! You could also add black beans to keep it vegetarian.