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Fresh Garden Tomato Salad

This fresh tomato salad is one of the simplest and most delicious salads you can make.  At my house, we only make this salad at this time of year, when garden-ripened tomatoes are readily available.

The Best Tomato Salad

A flavorful tomato salad made with garden ripened tomatoes.


The anticipation builds as we watch the tomato plants in my garden grow and mature.  We'll eat this salad as a side dish or as the main event.  Tomatoes are the star ingredient.

You don't need to grow your own tomatoes for this salad but I do encourage you to only make it with the very best vine-ripened tomatoes you can find. Otherwise, the salad will have a drab, lifeless flavor.

Tips for Success

You must use vine-ripened tomatoes for the best flavor.  Save this salad for tomato season in your area.

Red onion will add additional color to your salad but feel free to use your favorite onion.  Thin slices are best.

Fresh basil is important.  Roll the leaves together and cut across for thin ribbons of delicious flavor.

Be generous with your salt and pepper.  They will bring out the flavor of the tomatoes.

Use red wine vinegar.  Pay attention to the one-to-three ratio of vinegar to olive oil.

Use a flavorful extra virgin olive oil.  I sometimes use a basil-flavored olive oil.

Use the best fresh mozzarella you can find.  It has a softer, more flavorful taste than the blocks of mozzarella you shred for your pizza. It makes a difference.

Other Summer Salads You'll Love

Make the very best Caesar Salad.

Fresh Garden Tomato Salad

summer salad, garden salad, fresh tomato salad
salad
American
Yield: 4
Author: Donna Urso
Fresh Garden Tomato Salad

Fresh Garden Tomato Salad

A flavorful, seasonal salad to serve when garden tomatoes are at their peak flavor.
Prep time: 10 MinTotal time: 10 Min

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Cut your tomatoes into chunks and add to a bowl.
  2. Slice the red onion thinly and add to the tomatoes.
  3. Season the tomatoes and red onions generously with salt and pepper.
  4. Sprinkle the red wine vinegar and olive oil over the mixture. Toss to coat and distribute flavors.
  5. Add the fresh basil and mozzarella cheese.
  6. Chill for about an hour to encourage the flavors to meld.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

168.67

Fat (grams)

14.65 g

Sat. Fat (grams)

3.81 g

Carbs (grams)

5.24 g

Fiber (grams)

1.34 g

Net carbs

3.9 g

Sugar (grams)

3.15 g

Protein (grams)

4.89 g

Sodium (milligrams)

165.18 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

14 mg

Nutritional information is approximate.

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