Humble recipes like this simple heirloom tomato salad create lasting memories. I drew inspiration for this salad from my visit to Oaxaca, Mexico, where heirloom tomatoes abound in beautiful abundance and tantalize your palate with ultimate simplicity
Jump to Recipe
Why you will love this Simple Heirloom Tomato Salad
You can dash this recipe out in under 15 minutes. If you don’t already have your pickled onions on hand in the refrigerator, no worries, simply make them first and by the time you have prepared your dressing and sliced the tomatoes, they’ll be ready to go.
Ingredients for HEIRLOOM TOMATO SALAD
Heirloom Tomatoes - Heirloom tomatoes are special due to their rich diversity of flavors, colors, and shapes passed down through generations, offering a unique and authentic taste of history and heritage. Whether you grow them in your garden or find them at the store. Choose a variety of colors for a dazzling display in this salad.
The Simple Citrus Dressing
- Lemon Juice and Zest – This dressing's star ingredient is lemon juice and zest.
- Salt
- Honey – Local honey is preferable for its immune-boosting properties against local allergens and its fresher taste profile. Use agave if you would like this salad to be vegan.
- Shallot – In this case, we will be omitting the shallots because we are using pickled red onions.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil - a quality brand is supremely important to the success of any recipe wherever olive oil is called for.
- Black Pepper - fresh crushed from whole peppercorns yields the best flavor.
The Pickled Red Onions
- Red Onion - Thinly sliced red onion adds a crisp bite and vibrant color
- Apple Cider Vinegar - apple cider vinegar provides tanginess
- Warm Water - warm water aids in dilution
- Granulated Sugar - sugar balances acidity
- Kosher Salt - salt enhances the overall flavor in a pickling solution. My preferred salt is Redmond Real Salt mined from ancient underground sea beds below the earth.
HOW TO MAKE SIMPLE HEIRLOOM TOMATO SALAD
The Heirloom Tomato Salad
- Thinly slice the heirloom tomatoes, arrange them on a serving platter, and alternate the beautiful colors into an artful pattern.
- Arrange a small beautiful pile of pickled red onions near the center.
- Right before serving, drizzle about two-thirds of the dressing over the tomatoes and serve immediately. The dressing will promptly start pulling juice from the tomatoes, so make sure to wait until serving time.
The Simple Citrus Dressing
- Rub zest in salt to release the lemon oils.
- Place all ingredients in a mason jar in the order ingredients are listed.
- First, combine lemon juice and honey to allow the lemon to dissolve the honey.
- Then, add the EVOO and pepper, allowing them to marinate while you assemble your salad. (skipping the chopped shallots in exchange for the pickled onions below).
- Once you've prepared your salad, vigorously shake all the dressing ingredients in a mason jar with a lid, then pour the desired amount of dressing over the prepared tomatoes.
The Pickled Red Onions
- Combine vinegar, water, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk together until sugar and salt is fully dissolved.
- Place onion in a jar. Pour the vinegar mixture over the onions and let sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour. Preferably in the refrigerator for at least 1 day. Pickled onions will last for a few weeks stored in the refrigerator.
Other Delicious Salads featuring The Simple Citrus Dressing:
- Simple Citrus Mandarin Salad
- Cherry Quinoa Arugula Salad
- Shaved Asparagus Toasted Almond Salad
- Quatro Verde Citrus Salad
Historical Significance of Heirloom Tomatoes
Heirloom tomatoes trace their roots back centuries, originating from open-pollinated varieties cultivated by farmers and gardeners for generations. These tomatoes were prized for their diverse colors, shapes, and flavors, embodying the essence of regional agricultural traditions. As industrial agriculture became dominant, many heirloom varieties fell out of favor, replaced by hybrids bred for uniformity and shelf life.
Thankfully, a resurgence of interest in heirloom tomatoes emerged in recent decades, driven by a desire for unique flavors, sustainability, and preservation of genetic diversity. Today, heirloom tomatoes are celebrated for their rich taste, vibrant hues, and cultural significance, serving as a delicious reminder of the agricultural heritage passed down through the ages. Let’s keep honoring this beautiful botanical fruit!
Prime Heirloom Tomato Season
While heirlooms can be found year-round in stores, their peak season typically spans from late summer into the fall, local varieties start appearing around late July or early August. The true allure of heirlooms lies in their name: these tomatoes' seeds are passed down from generation to generation by farmers, resulting in unparalleled flavor.
Simple Heirloom Tomato Salad
Equipment
- 1 12" serving platter
Ingredients
- 4-5 heirloom tomatoes in a variety of colors
Simple Citrus Dressing - ingredients listed below
- 1 lemon zest and juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 tbs Honey
- 1 medium shallot finely chopped
- ⅓ cup olive oil extra virgin
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper crushed
Pickled Red Onions - ingredients listed below
- 1 medium red onion thinly sliced
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons Kosher salt
Instructions
- On a 12” serving platter, thinly slice the heirloom tomatoes and arrange them on a serving platter, alternate the beautiful colors into an artful pattern.
- Arrange a small, beautiful pile of pickled red onions near the center, about ¼ of the simple pickled red onion recipe.
- Right before serving, drizzle about two thirds of the dressing over the tomatoes and serve immediately. The dressing will promptly start pulling juice from the tomatoes, so make sure to wait until serving time.
Notes
Nutrition
Leave a Reply