This easy cherry tomato salad recipe is healthy, simple, and delicious. It makes a great side dish or light lunch! This recipe is an easy summer side dish that’s great for outdoor parties and BBQs.Grab the recipe down below!
Cherry Tomato Salad
We love tomatoes; maybe that’s the reason I grow so many varieties in our family garden. We recently hosted lunch for friends, and I needed a quick, easy, and delicious cherry tomato salad. So, I thought, how about a tomato salad? It turns out it was the garden salad we never knew we needed in our life.
One of the many benefits of growing a family garden is having lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, primarily veggies, during the warmer months. This year, I planted fifteen tomato plants. Most are cherry or grape varieties, and I always make sure to plant Roma and San Marzano tomatoes, too; they are perfect for making my favorite tomato sauce recipes.
Recently, The Mrs. and I hosted our neighbors for lunch, and I needed to come up with a perfect summer salad, but I couldn’t think of anything to make, and I didn’t want to serve a basic no thrills salad. I had kale, collard greens, arugula, and Swiss chard, but none of those greens weren’t what I was craving. I was craving tomatoes and decided to go off the beaten track for traditional salads, so I created a simple tomato salad using lots of fresh ripe cherry and grape tomatoes right out of our garden.
What You Will Need To Make Our Cherry Tomato Salad:
Cherry & Grape Tomatoes. I used four types, Sun Sugar, Black Cherry, Yellow Pear, and Juliets.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar. Grab your best EVOO and a dash of good balsamic vinegar. An excellent balsamic vinegar will include grape must as an ingredient, and traditional balsamic vinegar should originate from Modena, Italy. Also, look for the addition of Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale (the D.O.P. stamp), which means Denominazione di Origine Protetta, in the description.
Garlic. Thyme. Basil. Oregano. Sun-ripened tomatoes need little help to shine, but fresh herbs compliment the flavors of any tomato variety. I used fresh sprigs of thyme, basil, and oregano. Adding garlic was, as always, a step in the right direction.
Sea Salt & Freshly Cracked Black Peppercorns. When it comes to tomatoes, adding a bit of good sea salt and quality freshly cracked black peppercorns is essential. Use them lavishly or only a scant amount, it’s all about what you like, and no one is going to argue with you when it comes to how much salt and freshly ground black peppercorns you need in your life.
Cherry Tomato Salad
8 Servings
Ingredients:
- 4 1/2 cups of tomatoes
- 1 cup of pecorino cheese
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsps balsamic vinegar
- a fresh sprig of basil with the leaves left whole or torn into pieces
- 3-4 sprigs of fresh oregano
- 3-4 sprigs of fresh thyme
Directions on how to make this garden salad:
Slice tomatoes in half into a large mixing bowl, add herbs and minced garlic. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Gently toss. Divide into serving bowls, or switch the presentation up by serving this delicious tomato salad in glass coupes. Top with freshly grated pecorino cheese. Serve.
Great Add-Ins or Substitutes
Green Onions, sliced
Red Onion, chopped or diced
Olives, chopped or whole
Cucumbers, sliced or cut into cubes
Zucchini, sliced or cut into cubes
Red or White Wine Vinegar
Blue Cheese, Feta, or a really good Parmigiano-Reggiano
Kale, Collard Greens, or Swiss Chard, chopped or torn apart
Parsley, Cilantro, or Mint, chopped or torn apart
Microgreens like arugula, chicory, romaine lettuce, endive, or radicchio, chopped or torn apart.
Can I make this tomato salad a day ahead?
Prepare a day ahead and store the bowl covered with tight-fitting plastic wrap overnight.
Can I make a tomato salad into a creamy salad instead of an oil and vinegar-based salad?
Yes, substitute the extra olive oil and vinegar for your favorite creamy salad dressings like ranch, blue cheese, caesar, or a cucumber salad dressing.
Can I use other types of tomatoes besides cherry or grape varieties?
Yes, for larger tomatoes, just cut them into small chunks and proceed with the recipe.
How long does tomato salad last in the refrigerator?
A tomato salad will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days.
Now that you have the recipe grab the ingredients and make this beautiful and delicious summertime tomato salad as a perfect side for grilled fish, a slab of ribs. It also pairs well with a perfectly cooked beef or tuna steak. And as always, if you have any questions drop up a line in the comments section below.
Find more recipes below using tomatoes:
Grilled Shrimp Salad with Tomatoes
Bacon Lettuce & Triple Tomato Salad
Tomato + Cheesy Egg Toast Recipe
Fresh Tomato Bruschetta Chicken Bake
Creamy Tomato + Chickpea Soup (Instant Pot Recipe)
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 cups of tomatoes
- 1 cup of pecorino cheese
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsps balsamic vinegar
- a fresh sprig of basil with the leaves left whole or torn into pieces
- 3-4 sprigs of fresh oregano
- 3-4 sprigs of fresh thyme
Instructions
- Slice tomatoes in half into a large mixing bowl, add herbs and minced garlic. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Gently toss. Divide into serving bowls, or switch the presentation up by serving this delicious tomato salad in glass coupes. Top with freshly grated pecorino cheese. Serve.
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