Heirloom Tomato Salad

This heirloom tomato salad just screams summer!  Juicy, flavorful, & made with just a few simple ingredients, this salad is the perfect side dish to add to your menu!

What are heirloom tomatoes anyways? The seeds are what make an heirloom tomato an heirloom tomato. They literally are passed down from season to season. How cool is that? The farmers take them from the plants that produced the best fruit, which allows them to select for traits like juiciness, size, shape, or color.

Heirloom tomatoes are often open-pollinated, meaning they are pollinated naturally, by birds, insects, wind, or human hands. And while there is no designated definition of ‘heirloom’, some farms may market their tomatoes as heirlooms and they’re not. Your best bet is to buy from a local farmer’s market. They’re pretty to look at and their taste is out of this world!

And even though tomatoes aren’t in season here in Miami, I just couldn’t resist buying these heirlooms recently. Sure, normal tomatoes can make just as good as salad as these. But there’s just something to be said about having a ‘star of the show’ on your plate. Trust me. Spend the extra money just once. You’ll see what I mean!

Heirloom Tomato Salad & Additions

1. Heirloom Tomatoes– See my description above. And sure, a regular tomato could be substituted in here, but just know that some of the spark of this simple ‘recipe’ is because of the heirloom tomatoes.
2. Cheese – I used blue cheese on my tomatoes. I like the flavor – it’s a tad salty and a tad pungent in just the right amounts. I know, I know. Blue cheese can be divisive. Feel free to use whatever cheese you like. Feta would go nicely here. We’re going for tomatoes to be the star of the show and the cheese to pair with them nicely. If you were to use burrata, I think burrata might steal the show. But you do you!
3. Dressing– I used my homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing to drizzle all over. If you’re in a pinch you can use a balsamic glaze. This is the one that I think has the best flavor. I’ve tried quite a few and this one hands down is the best. Pinky promise. If you’re into making balsamic glaze homemade, you simply would reduce balsamic vinegar with some sugar and let it simmer for a bit. This is one condiment though that I have on my shelf that is not homemade.
4. Parsley– I used parsley to add just a touch of flavor. Basil could definitely be used here, but as I keep saying, the tomatoes should be the star of the show. Basil might be too overpowering. And if you want to leave a fresh herb off, dried can work just as well!

How To Make Heirloom Tomato Salad

It really is as simple as cutting the tomatoes, throwing on some cheese with a quick drizzle of dressing. Sometimes simple is the best.

1. Add Tomatoes to a Serving Platter: Slice your tomatoes and arrange on a serving platter, overlapping some. Sprinkle with a dash of salt and pepper (if you wish – my dressing had enough so I didn’t add any more!)
2. Add Cheese: Sprinkle cheese over the tomatoes. Drizzle the balsamic vinaigrette over the tomatoes, making sure each tomatoes gets just a tad.
3. Garnish & Serve: Top your salad with chopped parsley or basil. Serve and enjoy!

This heirloom tomato salad is a must make come summertime! I’ve even turned this into a tomato sandwich with toasted bread and a smear of mayonnaise – that’s right, a smear of mayonnaise mixed in with that blue cheese, makes one delicious sandwich. Trust me!

LOOKING FOR MORE SUMMER SIDE DISHES?

• Mexican Corn – Elote
• Watermelon, Mint, and Feta Salad
• Mango Salsa
• Mango Gelato

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