Posted on
by 
18 Comments Sometimes the simplest recipes are the best. And this heirloom tomato salad is definitely one of those recipes. Give me a bowl filled with ripe tomatoes in all sorts of colors, shapes and sizes and I’m happy. Add a simple vinaigrette, some crunchy cucumber and fresh herbs and you have a delicious salad in about 10 minutes.
Table of contents
Tip from Simone
Tomatoes taste best at room temperature, so don’t serve them straight from the fridge. And if you can, use several different varieties. Cherry tomatoes, beef tomatoes, plum tomatoes or heirloom tomatoes: anything goes. The more colors and shapes, the prettier your salad will be.
Tomato Salad Ingredients
You only need a handful of ingredients for this easy tomato salad:
- Tomatoes – you need about 500 grams/1.1lb. Use ripe tomatoes with plenty of flavor and preferably mix a few different varieties, colors and sizes.
- Cucumber – half a cucumber adds crunch and even more vegetables. You can also use mini cucumbers.
- Cilantro – fresh cilantro works really well here, but if you’re one of those people who thinks cilantro tastes like soap, please don’t torture yourself. Basil, parsley or chives are all delicious alternatives.
- Lemon – fresh lemon juice gives the dressing a nice fresh acidity. Lime works too.
- Extra virgin olive oil – because the dressing is so simple, use an olive oil you actually like the taste of.
- White balsamic vinegar – this is slightly sweet and doesn’t change the color of the tomatoes. White wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar can be used instead.
- Salt and black pepper – essential for bringing out the flavor of the tomatoes.
How to Store Tomato Salad
This tomato salad is definitely at its best when freshly made. Once mixed with the dressing, the tomatoes and cucumber will slowly release their juices.
You can keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for about 1 day. Let the salad come closer to room temperature before eating it again for the best flavor.
If you want to prepare the salad ahead, chop the vegetables and make the vinaigrette separately. Keep both refrigerated and combine shortly before serving.
Freezing is not recommended. Both tomatoes and cucumber become very soft and watery after thawing.
FAQ Tomato Salad
Not at all. The most important thing is to use ripe, flavorful tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes, vine tomatoes, plum tomatoes or tomatoes straight from your garden are all perfect. A combination is even better.
Heirloom tomatoes are traditional tomato varieties that have been grown and passed on for generations. They often look quite different from standard supermarket tomatoes and can vary enormously in color, shape, texture and flavor. But you absolutely don’t need them to make a good tomato salad.
You can do some of the prep ahead, but I wouldn’t mix everything too early. Cut the tomatoes and cucumber and keep the dressing separately. Toss everything together shortly before serving.
Fresh basil is probably my favorite alternative and obviously a classic combination with tomatoes. Chives, flat-leaf parsley or a mixture of fresh herbs also works well.
Add mozzarella, burrata (unsure what the difference is between mozzarella and burrata?), feta, chickpeas or white beans for a more substantial salad. A handful of beans is particularly useful if you want to keep it plant-based while adding some protein and fiber. Serve with good bread and you have an easy summer meal. You can also turn it into a panzanella salad.
More tomato recipes
Recipe Card Tomato Salad
Easy Tomato Salad
Ingredients
- 1/2 cucumber
- 500 gram tomatoes various shapes and sizes
- 1 sprig cilantro coriander, leaves only
Dressing
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1 tbsp white balsamic vinegar or another nice vinegar
- black pepper
- seasalt
Instructions
- Wash the cucumber and slice lengthwise. Chop the halves into smaller slices.
- Wash all the tomatoes and slice or chop them into various different sizes. The more shapes, sizes and colours you use the better your salad will look. Plus the tastes are all different, adding more variety to your salad too.
- Squeeze the lemon and mix with the olive oil and the vinegar to make a vinaigrette. Taste and adjust to your liking. Also adding salt and pepper to the dressing at this point.
- Put cucumber and all tomatoes into a large bowl and mix well with the dressing. Toss it around until all tomatoes are covered in a little bit of the dressing. taste again and add pepper and/or salt if needed.
- add some cilantro through the tomatoes if you like. Chives would also be really good with the tomatoes or basil ofcourse.
Nutrition Information per portion:
Disclaimer:
The nutritional values above are calculated per portion. The details are based on standard nutritional tables and do not constitute a professional nutritional advice.
This salad is super simple but it is one of my favorite summer salads!
Such a great post! Love what you created, looks delicious and I’m going to try it! Here is my latest food related post if you wanna take a look 🙂
http://elmarama.blogspot.com/2014/05/strip-steak-with-roasted-potato-medley.html
I agree with you if the flavor of the tomato is good, who cares. I am sure there are many who loosely use the word heirloom as it sounds a little more exciting and suggests a more romantic tomato dish. Love simplicity. 🙂
Yes, there are a lot of those words that people tend to use as it kind of sounds more exciting/romantic/fun than what they’re actually selling probably. Lol… O well, as long as it tastes good, it tastes good!
When local tomatoes are in season, we have exactly this salad all the time! One of the best — simple, and outstanding flavor. And I’m with you — if the flavor is good, the flavor is good (heirloom or no).
Exactly! No one cares about the name if the taste is awesome!
There’s just something so beautiful about heirloom tomatoes. For me it’s that theyre not imposters born in some lab to be super perect tomatoes. Simple salads like this are what I live on during the hotter months….. which is about half the year here in Phoenix 🙂
Yes, well we don’t have that much of good weather really but I agree; it’s their imperfection that makes them perfect! Plus the flavors. Ray so wildly that it’s always a surprise to find how they taste!
I agree tomatoes do not require much added, they are that amazing! I love going to our farmers markets and grabbing different colored tomatoes! Your salad looks amazing:-) Hugs, Terra
Thanks Terra! I just wish they would be easier to find here as it usually requires quite a bit of searching for us to find them!
I couldn’t agree more — when tomatoes are at their peak you need to add so little to them in order to turn them into an amazing meal. Tomato season is always one of my happiest food seasons each year!
For me too! Just loooove tomato season. And rhubarb season… 🙂
Sometimes, simple is best! I grow my heirloom tomatoes, each year for an even better flavour! Yum Yum Yummm!
Give me a chilled cabernet rosé & I will eat it in my garden, with you! 🙂
That’s a date than Skphie! 🙂 how cool that you grow your own! I’ve only just planted my first tomatoes in the garden this week, so can’t wait to see what comes out!
Fresh and tasty! Simplicity is the key ingredient…
Cheers,
Rosa
Simple and delicious indeed!
Beautiful colours… ‘Spring’ in a plate 😀
Thanks Lisa! It is right? 🙂