Summer Corn Tomato Pasta Salad (Printable)

Juicy tomatoes, sweet corn, and pasta tossed with basil and a punchy vinaigrette for refreshing summer flavor.

# Components:

→ Pasta

01 - 8 ounces short pasta such as fusilli, penne, or farfalle

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 cups fresh corn kernels (from about 3 ears of corn) or thawed frozen corn
03 - 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
05 - 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
06 - 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn

→ Cheese (optional)

07 - 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled

→ Dressing

08 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
09 - 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
10 - 1 clove garlic, minced
11 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
12 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
13 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water until fully cooled.
02 - If using fresh corn, steam or boil the kernels for 2 to 3 minutes until just tender. Drain and allow to cool.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, add cooled pasta, corn, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, and torn basil leaves. Add feta cheese if using.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, sea salt, and black pepper until fully emulsified.
05 - Pour the vinaigrette over the salad. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
06 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • This salad is secretly even better the next day – the flavors only get bolder after a stint in the fridge.
  • It’s impossible to mess up and totally customizable with whatever veggies or cheese you have on hand.
02 -
  • If you don’t rinse the pasta after draining, it’ll keep cooking and get sticky – trust me, I learned this after one very clumpy batch.
  • Lettuce wilted fast the first hot day I made this, so now I add soft herbs and cheese at the last minute for the best texture.
03 -
  • A little extra vinegar in the dressing keeps the salad tasting lively even after sitting in the fridge.
  • If you’re prepping ahead, store the salad and dressing separately and combine right before serving for maximum freshness.
Return