Description
Mediterranean tomato salad blends ripe, juicy tomatoes with crisp cucumbers and fragrant herbs. Mediterranean ingredients create a refreshing summer dish bursting with fresh flavors you’ll savor to the last bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 45 tomatoes (any variety), cut into wedges or thick slices
- ¼ red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, torn (or use parsley if preferred)
- 2 tbsps (30 mL) extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar
- 1 garlic clove, minced (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Crumbled feta
- Mozzarella balls
- Sliced avocado
Instructions
- Slice Preparation: Artfully cut ripe tomatoes into uniform wedges or rounds, creating a visually appealing base for the salad. Simultaneously, shave red onion into gossamer-thin rings to provide a sharp, crisp counterpoint.
- Flavor Fusion: Combine tomatoes and onions in a generous mixing bowl, setting the stage for a vibrant flavor symphony. Whisk together extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and freshly ground pepper to create a robust vinaigrette.
- Dressing and Melding: Gently cascade the aromatic dressing over the vegetable medley, employing a delicate folding technique to ensure each ingredient is kissed by the vinaigrette without compromising the tomatoes’ delicate structure. Allow the salad to rest momentarily, enabling flavors to intermingle and intensify.
- Final Flourish: Adorn the salad with a cascade of freshly torn basil leaves, their verdant aroma elevating the dish. Serve at room temperature to maximize the flavor profile, or briefly chill for a refreshing twist.
Notes
- Select Peak Freshness: Choose ripe, vibrant tomatoes with deep color and slight give when gently pressed to ensure maximum flavor and juiciness.
- Master Slicing Technique: Use a sharp knife and cut tomatoes with consistent thickness to create visually appealing and evenly textured salad pieces.
- Balance Onion Intensity: Soak thinly sliced red onions in cold water for 5-10 minutes to reduce sharp bite and mellowing their raw flavor without losing crispness.
- Optimize Marination Time: Let salad rest at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving to allow ingredients to absorb dressing and develop deeper, more integrated taste profile.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 50
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 4.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg