Valentina Ablaev
This tomato salad is the perfect summer recipe, especially when fresh tomatoes are in season. The salad is made with juicy tomatoes, crisp red onion, and a simple olive oil dressing – it’s bursting with flavor and comes together in just minutes.
If you’re looking for a quick and refreshing side dish, this fresh tomato salad is a must-try as it pairs well with just about any summer meal!
The BEST Quick Summer Salad!
When tomatoes are at their peak, we often make this simple tomato salad. While the cucumber tomato onion salad is a staple during the summer months, this tomato salad is the quicker version.
Tomato Salad Ingredients
The ingredients list for this recipe is so simple and I bet you have just about all of the ingredients on hard, yes, please!
- Fresh tomatoes – use any ripe tomatoes you have on hand.
- Red onion – we like red onion, but sweet onion may be used instead.
- Garlic – freshly minced garlic, don’t substitute for powdered garlic.
- Dressing – for the dressing, we used olive oil with vinegar seasoned with salt and pepper.
- Fresh herbs – any herbs like basil, parsley, cilantro or dill will work. You can also do a mixture of herbs that you have on hand.
How to Make Tomato Salad (5-Minute Method)
This tomato salad recipe is incredibly simple:
- Prepare the tomatoes – Slice, dice, or quarter the tomatoes into bite-sized pieces.
- Slice the onion – Thinly slice red onion for a bit of crunch and mild sharpness.
- Mix the dressing – In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Toss – Gently toss the tomatoes, herbs and dressing in a bowl.
- Serve and enjoy, friends.
| Best herbs for tomato salad? You can use your favorite herbs or a combination of fresh herbs. Fresh cilantro, parsley, basil or dill will all work. |
Pro Tips for the Best Tomato Salad
- Use the ripest, juiciest tomatoes you can find.
- Slice the onions thinly so they don’t overpower the salad.
- Let the salad sit for 10–15 minutes before serving to intensify the flavors.
Best Tomatoes for Salad
I love this salad because the tomatoes you use truly can vary. The key to a great salad is using ripe tomatoes. You can use roma tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes or even a mixture of tomatoes.
When tomatoes are in season, we love to use a variety of tomatoes fresh from the garden or farmer’s market.
Storage and Make-Ahead:
- Make ahead: You can easily make the salad up to a day in advance, just don’t mix the salad. Slice the tomatoes and onion and add them to a bowl. Mix the ingredients for the dressing an keep them separate. Then just toss before serving.
- Storage: Store leftovers in the fridge covered and enjoy the next day—it gets even better! We don’t recommend storing more than one day as the tomatoes will get soggy.
More Popular Salads
We love easy salads, especially during the summer months when you don’t really want to turn the oven on. Here are some of our favorite to try:
- Macaroni salad– a potluck favorite.
- Pasta salad– with the best dressing.
- Cucumber salad– simple ingredients.
- Greek salad– with a homemade dressing.
- Marinated tomatoes– in a light dressing.
Fresh Tomato Salad Recipe (5 minutes!)
Ingredients
- 1 lb tomatoes, sliced
- 1/2 red onion, sliced
- 3 Tbsp fresh herbs (basil, cilantro or parsley)
dressing-
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp white distilled vinegar
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Slice the tomatoes and onions and add to a salad bowl.
- In a small bowl, combine the ingredients for the salad dressing.
- Toss the salad in the dressing and serve.
- Enjoy!
