Heirloom Tomato Salad is light, simple, and absolutely scrumptious. If you love tomatoes, then you have to try this delightful salad which is perfect as a summer side or vegetarian dish.
If it’s true what they say about eating with your eyes first, then you’re in luck! I could spend all day at the market picking out the best fruit to make this beautiful tomato salad. It’s definitely a feast for the eyes.
How are Heirloom Tomatoes Different than Regular Tomatoes?
Heirloom tomatoes are unique because of their seeds. Farmers choose the seeds from tomato plants that yield the best fruit.
They pass along these select seeds each season, hoping to create the perfect tomato based on color, shape, size and taste. In most cases, these seeds are passed down through generations, which is how they got the name ‘heirloom’.
What do Heirloom Tomatoes Taste Like?
Heirloom tomatoes are milder, sweeter, and less acidic than a regular tomato. I love the taste of the orange tomatoes with red stripes. Heirloom cherry (or baby) tomatoes are especially yummy!
There are many shapes, colors and sizes, and you’ll find the best selection at your local farmer’s market. Each tomato is different…which makes it an incredible work of art.
Salad Ingredients
- variety of heirloom tomatoes
- feta cheese
- fresh basil
- fresh thyme
- pickled vidalia onions (ad)
- Italian or balsamic dressing
- salt and cracked black pepper
How to Make It
Core each heirloom tomato, then slice into 6 wedges. Place tomatoes on your prettiest serving dish.
Sprinkle feta cheese, basil, thyme and pickled vidalia onions (ad) over tomatoes. If you’ve never had pickled vidalia onions, you should really give them a whirl. They’re amazing!
Reserve juice from vidalia onions and pour over the top. If you can’t find pickled vidalia onions, substitute another pickled vegetable that you like.
Drizzle Italian dressing over tomatoes. You can also use balsamic dressing if desired. Top with a dash of sea salt and cracked black pepper.
This salad couldn’t be simpler, but it is packed full of flavor, which makes it a popular side to any entree!
Serving Suggestions
Serve Heirloom Tomato Salad at your summer picnics with grilled beef, chicken or pork. It goes really well with my Grilled Pork Tenderloin or Fall Off the Bone BBQ Ribs.
More Tomato Recipes to Love
If tomatoes float your boat, then try these related recipes…
- Heirloom Tomato Tart
- Southern Tomato Pie
- Skillet Tomato Galette
- Tomato Olive Flatbread
- Sun Dried Tomato Pasta
Heirloom Tomato Salad
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Heirloom Tomato Salad is light, simple, and absolutely scrumptious. If you love tomatoes, then you have to try this delightful salad which is perfect as a summer side or vegetarian dish.
Ingredients
- 4 heirloom tomatoes (variety of colors and sizes)
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 2 Tbsp. fresh thyme
- 1/2 cup pickled vidalia onions with juice (ad)
- 1/2 cup Italian or balsamic dressing
- sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Core each tomato, then slice into 6 wedges.
- Place heirloom tomatoes on a serving dish.
- Sprinkle feta cheese, basil, thyme and pickled vidalia onions over tomatoes.
- Reserve juice from vidalia onions and pour over the top.
- Drizzle dressing over tomatoes.
- Top with salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
Store leftover tomatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Feel free to substitute pickled vidalia onions with another pickled vegetable, or leave them out if desired.
- Category: Salads
- Method: Mix by Hand
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: heirloom tomatoes, tomatoes, tomato salad, heirlooms, feta, vidalia onions, basil, thyme, sides, vegetarian, salads
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Thanks for sharing this recipe and telling me what you think in the comment section below…
I thought this might be too tart, but it wasn’t -it was delicious! I put it with your chicken salad and it was a great summer meal.
★★★★★
Thanks, Carol! You created the same combo I love! 🙂