Fresh summer vegetables like corn, cucumbers and tomatoes come together to make the perfect summer side dish.

Make fresh summer produce sing in this super simple, make ahead friendly side dish. This salad is a great way to enjoy the abundance of cucumbers, corn and tomatoes coming out of the garden right now. The fact that it is so easy to assemble just makes it even better!
I feel like usually when I say something like “this tastes like summer,” I am referring to a dessert like orange creamsicle ice cream or the no bake cheesecake that inspired it.
Despite appearances to the contrary, however, we really do eat vegetables on the regular. I suppose you know that already though, after all of my excitement over our weekly CSA boxes.
Our own garden is proving to be quite prolific as well, so we are getting creative and definitely eating our daily vegetables.
We planted a few little cucumber plants this year and I thought for sure we got them in too late and they wouldn’t do anything. Boy was I wrong! My husband gave them some metal netting to climb and they formed a solid wall of cucumber plant.
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Corn salad with grilled pork loin with bacon |
So we have been eating our weight in sour cream and dill cucumbers, gone in a second cucumbers and the like. We also have been giving them to anyone who will take some.
Luckily our CSA folks have been great and let us trade the cucumbers in the box for other items, like more sweet corn! So I thought it would be fun to make a salad with that extra corn, some of the mountain of cucumbers and a few of the also prolific (and super tall) cherry tomatoes I told you about.
You’ll have to check out the picture I shared along with the Parmesan roasted zucchini and tomato recipe.
We were all so thrilled with how it turned out. My husband was surprised how much he liked the cucumbers and corn together.
I really liked the little added freshness from the basil. The spaces between our teeth were happy that I finally removed some of the corn from the cob. 😉

We enjoyed this as a side dish a few days in a row with no complaint. I also think you could make a great lunch out of it by stirring in some chickpeas, feta or some chunks of grilled chicken. Oooh, or all three would make an amazing light summer meal!
I hope you have been enjoying all of the garden and farmer’s market inspired recipes this week. Happy harvesting!
Want to make this corn salad hearty enough to be a lunch entree? Here are some great additions:
- Mozzarella pearls
- Crumbles feta cheese
- Chickpeas
- Grilled chicken
- Diced avocado
Tips and tricks
- This salad is great leftover. It will keep in the refrigerator for several days. The basil will wilt and get darker as time goes on, but it will still taste delicious.
- If you don’t have fresh corn on the cob, frozen can be subbed. Just parcook it a bit and then toss it with the other ingredients.
As always: If you make this recipe–or any CWC recipes–let me know what you think by leaving a comment below. And post a pic on Instagram or Pinterest too—tag @carleecooks so I can see! For more recipes and fun, like us on Facebook and follow along on Pinterest

Summer Corn Salad
Ingredients:
- 6 ears corn on the cob (or about 5 cups of corn)
- 3-4 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 small onion
- 1 small cucumber
- 3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup fresh basil
Instructions:
- Cook corn on the cob and allow to cool for a bit. Cut corn kernels off the cob.
- Dice onion, halve cherry tomatoes and slice cucumber.
- In a mixing bowl, stir together the vinegar, oil, salt and pepper. Toss in the vegetables. Refrigerate for at least an hour.
- Before serving, chiffonade the basil and toss into salad.
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Carlee
Friday 19th of July 2019
Thank you (it really is!)
Erlene
Monday 15th of July 2019
Oh my goodness, the bright colors in this corn salad look so appetizing. How can anyone resist?!
Carlee
Friday 19th of July 2019
Don't even try, just give in!
Anonymous
Wednesday 22nd of August 2018
That salad is gorgeous, Carlee! I'm so jealous of all of your fresh produce. Everything looks so tasty! Thanks so much for sharing this at the Whimsical Wednesdays Link Party!
Carlee
Saturday 25th of August 2018
We have really been enjoying the bounty this summer and since it's all local it's picked ripe and ready and oh so good!
Miz Helen
Monday 20th of August 2018
Your Summer Corn Salad will be fantastic! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing your post with us at Full Plate Thursday! Miz Helen
Carlee
Saturday 25th of August 2018
Thank you so much!
Amy
Tuesday 14th of August 2018
This summer corn salad looks sooo good. I love veggies.
Carlee
Saturday 25th of August 2018
Me too, thank you!