Description
A fresh and vibrant Simple Tomato Salad featuring a mix of ripe tomatoes tossed with a zesty vinaigrette, shallots, garlic, and fresh basil. This easy no-cook recipe is perfect for showcasing seasonal tomatoes with a bright, tangy dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
Tomatoes
- 2 to 3 pounds mixed tomatoes (beefsteak, heirloom, cherry, grape – whatever is ripe and in season)
Seasonings and Dressing
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt (plus more to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (plus more to taste)
- ¼ cup shallot, thinly sliced
- ½ teaspoon garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ⅓ cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed and torn
Instructions
- Add tomatoes to bowl. Slice large tomatoes into wedges and halve smaller cherry or grape tomatoes, then place all into a large mixing bowl.
- Sprinkle with salt and let set. Add ½ teaspoon kosher salt to the tomatoes and gently toss. Let the tomatoes sit for 10 to 15 minutes to draw out their juices, enhancing their flavor and texture.
- Add remaining ingredients except basil. Add freshly ground black pepper, thinly sliced shallot, minced garlic, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard directly into the bowl with the tomatoes and their released juices. Stir gently to combine.
- Drizzle in olive oil. Slowly pour in the extra-virgin olive oil while tossing the mixture to evenly coat all the ingredients and form a cohesive vinaigrette.
- Add basil and mix. Tear the fresh basil leaves and add them to the salad. Gently mix everything again to distribute the basil evenly throughout the salad.
- Let salad sit to develop flavors. Allow the salad to sit at room temperature for another 10 to 15 minutes so the flavors can meld together more harmoniously.
- Finish and serve. Just before serving, adjust the seasoning with additional kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed to taste.
Notes
- Use a variety of ripe tomatoes for best flavor and texture contrast.
- Allowing the tomatoes to sit with salt helps soften them and releases natural juices, enhancing the dressing.
- For a milder onion flavor, rinse the sliced shallots in cold water before adding.
- This salad is best served fresh but can be refrigerated for up to a day; bring to room temperature before serving.
- Optional additions include fresh mozzarella or a sprinkle of crumbled feta for a more substantial salad.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: simple tomato salad, fresh tomato salad, no cook salad, summer salad, tomato basil salad, easy salad recipe
