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This fresh and vibrant tomato salad is the perfect way to celebrate summer’s best produce. Juicy tomatoes, crisp red onions, and fragrant basil are tossed in a simple olive oil and vinegar dressing for a light, flavorful dish that pairs beautifully with just about any meal.
For more easy, fresh salad recipes, try my veggie-packed Spaghetti Salad and Waldorf Salad.
Why you’ll love this tomato and onion salad recipe!
This tomato salad recipe is one I make all summer long! I take juicy, ripe tomatoes and mix them with crunchy red onion and lots of fresh basil leaves. Then the salad is dressed simply with red wine vinegar and olive oil. The best part? You don’t even have to make the dressing separately—just drizzle and toss with the tomatoes and you’re all set!
This is a salad that keeps tomatoes as its star, so make sure you choose really red, ripe ones. No pale supermarket tomatoes will do for this salad!
- Fresh, Simple Ingredients: This salad lets ripe, in-season tomatoes truly shine with just a handful of ingredients that enhance their natural flavor instead of overpowering it.
- Quick and Effortless: With no complicated steps or prep work, you can have this salad ready in minutes—perfect for busy days or last-minute gatherings.
- Light Yet Flavorful: The balance of juicy tomatoes, sharp onion, and fresh herbs creates a dish that feels refreshing while still being incredibly satisfying.
- Perfect for Summer Meals: Whether you’re hosting a barbecue or making a simple weeknight dinner, this salad fits right in.
- Easy to Customize: You can keep it classic or add cheese, cucumbers, or olives to make it your own.
Table of Contents
Ingredient Notes
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Tomatoes – Choose very ripe tomatoes for the best flavor.
- Red onion – For a bit of crunch.
- Fresh basil – Basil adds even more summery flavor.
- Olive oil – I like extra-virgin olive oil.
- Red wine vinegar – You can substitute balsamic vinegar if needed.
- Salt and pepper – I like fine sea or table salt and fresh ground pepper.
Variations
- Add feta cheese. For extra salty flavor, add crumbled feta cheese to this salad.
- Toss in olives. This tomato salad, especially if you add feta, benefits from a Mediterranean flair. Pitted olives, left whole or chopped up, will infuse the salad with briny goodness.
- Add fresh mozzarella. Buy the little balls of fresh mozzarella in water and cut them in half, then add them to this salad. I use about a cup of mozzarella per salad recipe.
- Stir in some chopped cucumbers. To make this salad a little heartier, you can add some peeled, chopped cucumber. Or why not try my Cucumber Tomato Salad?
- Add other fresh herbs. Basil is wonderful with tomatoes, as is chopped fresh oregano or thyme.
- Try heirloom tomatoes. Heirloom tomatoes are exceptional when they are in season, full of intense tomato flavor. They are amazing in salads where tomato is the star, as in this salad.
How to Make Tomato Salad
- Prepare the tomatoes: Wash the tomatoes and cut them into bite-sized pieces.
- Mix together the tomatoes, onion, and basil: In a large mixing bowl, combine the tomatoes, red onion, and chopped basil.
- Add the olive oil and vinegar: Drizzle the olive oil and red wine vinegar over the salad, and toss gently to combine. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Rest the salad before serving: Let the salad sit for 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
Serving Suggestions
This tomato salad is a wonderful side dish that is a perfect complement to many meals. Here are a few pairings to serve with this salad:
- Grilled meat. Keep things easy this summer and make dinner on the grill! A tomato salad is always welcome with a main dish that’s been prepared outside. Try my Grilled Chicken Kabobs or Easy Grilled BBQ Chicken for great pairings.
- With appetizers. I love to serve this salad with my Easy Whipped Feta Dip and/or Spinach Artichoke Dip and a big stack of pita bread. You could also scoop up bites of salad with crispy tortilla chips!
- With pasta. The Italian flavors in this salad make it a perfect side dish to pasta dishes. My Creamy Tomato Pasta, One Skillet Creamy Tomato Sausage Pasta, or Cheesy and Easy Lasagna with Meat Sauce would be wonderful with a big bowl of tomato salad.
- Alongside homemade bread. I love tomato salad and freshly baked bread! It is so, so good. If you feel like a project, make my sourdough bread recipe for a real treat. Or make my Easy Homemade French Bread—it’s utterly perfect with this salad. Garlic Bread is also a great choice!
How to Store
Store leftover tomato salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The salad tastes best when it’s fresh!
Frequently Asked Questions
A tomato salad is mainly full of tomatoes, with onions and basil as its natural companions. You can add other ingredients as you wish.
Tomatoes that are great in salads include cherry tomatoes, off-the-vine tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, and others.
Yes, you can cut your tomatoes in advance. You can store the cut wedges or slices in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Tomatoes release juice naturally. Letting the salad rest briefly enhances flavor, but too much time can make it watery.
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Tomato Salad
Ingredients
- 4-5 tomatoes, medium-sized
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash the tomatoes and cut them into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the tomatoes, red onion, and chopped basil.
- Drizzle the olive oil and red wine vinegar over the salad, and toss gently to combine.
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Let the salad sit for 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Serve the tomato salad as a side dish, garnished with additional fresh basil leaves if desired.
This looks so fresh and delicious. Simple ingredients really do make the best dishes. Perfect for BBQs or an easy side at dinner!
I tried this and it was so good. So fresh and flavourful — perfect for BBQs or dinner.
So fresh and delicious! perfect for any BBQ or weeknight dinner!
Looks so fresh and flavorful!