Corn and Nectarine Salad

July 17, 2024

This fresh Corn and Nectarine Salad is the perfect summer side salad! Featuring fresh summer corn, licorice-y fennel, sweet nectarine and earthy basil, in a simple oil and lime dressing, this is such an easy and healthy side dish for summer.

Gluten Free, Grain Free, Nut Free, Egg Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free

Fresh summer corn – preferably from a farm stand so you know it’s LOCAL – is perhaps my most favorite summer food.

Better than a perfect zucchini bread. More delicious than a juicy burger.

There’s something about that sweet burst when you bite into the kernels that’s just so good!!!

Last year I shared this Corn and Edamame Salad that I’m honestly obsessed with, but this year I wanted a sweeter take. So meet my Corn and Nectarine Salad. But this isn’t just a Corn and Nectarine Salad.

This Corn and Nectarine Salad is…

also speckled with FENNEL and BASIL – an unlikely combination that’s just so good!
Easy to make in 1 bowl
Perfect for a BBQ side dish
Easy enough for a weeknight dinner
High in fiber

I know adding fruit to a savory salad is controversial for some, but I truly think you’ll be obsessed with this combo!

Ingredients You’ll Need to Make this Corn and Nectarine Salad

You’ll need just 6 ingredients to make this summer side salad, including:

Fresh corn is the star of this Corn and Nectarine Salad. You’ll need about 2 cups of fresh corn kernels cut off the cob, which is about 4 ears of corn.
Nectarine adds a sweet, fruity splash to this salad. I opted for nectarines because I love that they’re not fuzzy, but you can totally swap in peaches or plum too!
Fennel adds a unique licorice-y flavor to this reipe that complements the corn and nectarines beautifully. If you’ve never had fennel, chop off the fronds (the green part) and the base of the bulb. Remove the outer edges of the fennel bulb and finely chop the center. The key here is to finely chop the fennel!
Red onion is totally necessary for a slightly sharp bite that tastes oh so good!
Basil may not be the expected herb in this recipe but that’s why it’s so good! I think basil and fennel are a match made in heaven!
Fresh lime juice and olive oil make up the super simple dressing for this salad. The lime juice adds a bright pop of flavor that goes so well with corn and nectarines, believe it or not!

Did any of these ingredients surprise you? It may not seem like a common combo, but it’s soo delicious!

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need to Make this Corn and Nectarine Salad

You’ll really only need some basic kitchen tools to mix this salad together, including:

Large mixing bowl – I love this set because they come with lids so you can make the recipe in advance, refrigerate and serve later all in the same bowl!
Knife set
Lime juicer – makes it easy to juice the lime, but you can also just use your hands (just watch for seeds!)

How to Make Corn and Nectarine Salad

This Corn and Nectarine Salad could not be easier to make – you literally just mix everything together in one bowl!

First, you’ll combine the corn, fennel, nectarines, red onion, and basil in a large bowl. Then drizzle with olive oil and lime juice, and season with salt and pepper.

Mix together and enjoy immediately or serve later!

Tips to Make the Best Side Salad:

Fresh summer corn is superior for this recipe! As much as I love canned and frozen corn, this is NOT the recipe to use those in, unfortunately. This is a summer recipe and requires fresh corn for the best burst of flavor in every bite.
Husk the corn yourself! This will help ensure you have the freshest corn (see bullet #1 above)
Chop the fennel and onion small. These are strong flavors, so the last thing you want is to bite into a huge chunk of fennel or onion. Trust me, keep chopping and make a fine chop!

Other Summer Salads You’ll Enjoy: