This Tomato Salad combines the best summer harvest with sun-ripened fresh tomatoes, sweet red onions, garlic, and fresh basil in a simple oil and red wine vinegar dressing.
It is one of my favorite summer salads and the perfect side dish for the hot summer months. I love to serve it with grilled pork tenderloin and grilled chicken.
There is nothing tastier than fresh sun-ripened garden tomatoes right off the vine. I am not a huge fan of heat and humidity, but it produces delicious tomatoes. This simple Tomato Salad brings out the best in those sweet fruits and takes less than ten minutes to prepare.
Ingredients Needed
- Tomatoes: start with sun-ripened garden or fresh farmer tomatoes, as they are the star of this show. Any fresh tomato works well with this recipe. Heirloom tomatoes are always a win. Cut cherry and grape tomatoes in half, but cut larger tomatoes into bite-size pieces.
- Red onion
- Garlic: fresh, of course
- Fresh herbs: basil, thyme, dill, mint, chives, or parsley. Use dried oregano or marjoram, as fresh is too bitter.
- Extra virgin olive oil: look for extra virgin cold-pressed olive oil. This oil has been extracted without adding heat. Adding heat to the olives allows producers to extract more oil from the olives, but the heat damages the natural benefits of olive oil.
- Red wine vinegar: or balsamic vinegar, white wine vinegar, and champagne vinegar.
- Kosher salt: to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper: to taste
How to make Tomato Salad
Start by slicing your tomatoes. I like to cut the large tomatoes into bite-sized wedges and the grape tomatoes in half lengthwise. Then, slice the red onion thinly. Combine the tomatoes, red onion, garlic, and fresh basil leaves in a large bowl.
Drizzle with olive oil and red wine vinegar. Toss gently to coat and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Let the salad rest for 15-20 minutes to let the tomatoes marinate in the vinaigrette and release their natural juices.
Preparation Tips and Storage
- If possible, use fresh herbs. Once tossed, let the Tomato Salad sit for 15-20 minutes so all the flavors meld. Serve this dish at room temperature.
- For added texture, include more vegetables like avocado chunks, cucumber slices, or blanched asparagus.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Recipe Variations
- For a little more crunch, add some chopped English cucumber and make it a cucumber tomato salad. Or add a handful of kalamata olives for a Mediterranean flair.
- Do you love cheese? For a caprese salad, add 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese, Parmesan cheese, or 1 cup fresh mozzarella pearls.
- Nuts are always a good source of protein. Right before serving, toss in some toasted walnuts or sunflower seeds.
- Toast some crusty bread and toss it in the salad.
Tomato Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 ripe tomatoes
- 1 1/2 cup halved grape or cherry tomatoes
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 ½ tablespoons chopped fresh herbs like basil thyme, or parsley (see notes about dried herbs)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, red onion, garlic, and fresh herbs.
- Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar; toss gently to coat. Sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Let the salad rest for 15-20 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Other vinegars to use include balsamic vinegar, white wine vinegar, and champagne vinegar.
- If possible, use fresh herbs. Once tossed, let the Tomato Salad sit for 15-20 minutes so all the flavors meld. Serve this dish at room temperature.
- For added texture, include more vegetables like avocado chunks, cucumber slices, or blanched asparagus.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
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kushigalu
Simple yet so delicious salad recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Beth Pierce
Thank you!
Ntensibe Edgar
Is there a better salad than this one? I love this salad with my grilled pork, ALL THE TIME!
Irena
This colorful salad is just perfect! Plus it’s super quick to whip up.
jen
DROOL! I am making this salad for lunch today. I can not wait to eat it. Thank you.
Gervin Khan
Wow! This was so delicious and is a unique salad recipe. It’s easy to prepare and make. I am going to prepare it again for Father’s day. I hope my tomato plants are producing by then.
Tweenselmom
I need a healthy new recipe, and I have a lot of tomatoes at home. This is perfect, thanks for the recipe!!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure!
Rosey
Good tip on tearing the basil. Some herbs do get affected by how they’re cut or prepared. I love a good tomato salad.
Ashley t
This was so delicious. Perfect for summertime. I can’t wait to try it with my own home grown tomatoes.
April
Such a great salad! Tastes super fresh and is perfect for summer!
Tara
This salad is so amazing!! Everyone at my house loved how flavorful it is!
Donna Burke
This is my favorite salad. I love using different color tomatoes!
Beth Pierce
Me too!!
Jennifer
Tomato salad is one of my favorite summer recipes!! So refreshing and tasty!
Katie
Looks so good! Can’t wait to try this one.
katerina
My favorite salad! This was SO GOOD!! I can’t wait to make it again again!!
Toni
This has been a favorite side dish at my house!! So good!
Natalie
Love tomatoes!! The flavors burst in your mouth! What a refreshing salad!