Tomato Salad Says Summer
Nothing says the heart of summer like a wonderful tomato salad, brimming with sweet yet acidic tomatoes. For me, it makes the dog days of summer a little tamer….I often find myself sitting with the plate, trying to rationalize how I’m going to stuff the rest into my eager face, at the spite of my full stomach.
Theory & Ingredients
I prefer my tomato salad somewhat simple, letting the tomatoes shine. However, the subtle accompanying flavors are important. I like the rich creaminess of gorgonzola, accented by a touch of balsamic vinegar, some olive oil, and matched with a bit of avocado to round out the texture and flavors.
For this, you can’t skimp on the quality of tomatoes. Thus, don’t try to use your standard grocery tomatoes. Instead, I’d recommend finding a local farm stand or local farmer’s market – and buy either high quality beefsteak or heirloom tomatoes as the base. Atop, cherry tomatoes are best, and again try to find them at your local farmer’s market or farm stand. However, I’ve used standard golden cherry tomatoes or even grape tomatoes from the grocery if I can’t find anything better. Or, perhaps you should get off your tail and stop depending on others to make your food, and look into growing your own amazing heirloom tomatoes! I’ve been itching to try an heirloom plant or two from Totally Tomato, but not sure I have the patience nor skills to make it worth it.
On top, the avocado is perfect…and you can certainly customize this to your liking. I’ve even thrown other items which are laying around and I need to get rid of on top. Chopped onions and pine nuts have been perfect. I also love the pepperiness of arugula on the top, or on the bottom, to balance the tartness of the balsamic and the sweetness and acidity of the tomatoes. I’ve served it both ways; either on top as a bit of greens for the eager consumer, or lay the tomatoes on a bed of arugula. Either is fine….depending on how you’d prefer to serve. You can’t go wrong.
Amazing Mains to Pair with Tomato Salad Perfecto?
Looking for great options to pair with this refreshing tomato salad? Try one of the following!
Tomato Salad
Ingredients
- 2 heirloom or beefsteak tomatoes, sliced to quarter inch slices the more flavor the better – try your farmstand or farmer's market
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered the more flavorful the better, but the above tomatoes carry the show
- 1 ripe avocado, sliced into quarter inch slices
- 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
- 1/2 cup crumbled gorgonzola
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- salt to taste
- fresh ground pepper to taste
Optional Toppings
- 2 oz arugula to taste, presentation – can be placed on top, or beneath tomatoes.
- 1 tbsp fresh onion, preferably red optional
- 1 tbsp toasted pine nuts
Instructions
- lay sliced large tomatoes in a single layer on plate, overlapping a tad with each row, until the entire plate is covered. Add cherry tomatoes. I prefer buying tomatoes that have differing colors. Color splash!
- lay avocado slices in a fan from the center on top of tomatoes
- sprinkle gorgonzola, basil, and any optional ingredients over the top to your liking
- drizzle olive oil over tomatoes
- drizzle balsamic over tomatoes
- salt and pepper to taste
- Serve and enjoy!
