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Home » Salad

Published: Jun 29, 2020 · Modified: Jan 20, 2025 by Kathy

Heirloom Tomato Salad

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Quartered cherry tomatoes in a white bowl.

Marinated tomatoes in a light dressing make a perfect Heirloom Tomato Salad. This fresh salad can be made with a variety of cherry tomatoes or with just one kind.

Use any type of tomato you have available - just add a light dressing and fresh basil and you've got a delicious salad. 

A white bowl filled with colored tomatoes.

Why make this salad

Garden fresh tomatoes are one of the finer things in life! You just can't beat the amazing flavor of a sun ripened tomato. Great tomatoes are often available from a local farmer's market.

During the peak of tomato season, we can also find these tomatoes at our local grocery store. 

Small cherry tomatoes cut in half and topped with a light dressing.

What is an Heirloom Tomato?

An heirloom tomato is grown from a tomato seed that has been passed down from generation to generation. I usually think of them as an old fashioned tomato. There are several varieties of heirloom tomatoes including heirloom cherry tomatoes. 

Any type of really flavorful tomato would work in this salad. I liked this variety for the color and taste, but use what is available. If using a large tomato, cut into small, bite sized pieces. 

A bowl filled with green, yellow, red and orange cherry tomatoes.

Tomato Salad

These tomatoes are great all by themselves. I have a hard time resisting popping a few of these small tomatoes into my mouth. They are so delicious.

Because these are so great all by themselves, I've made just a simple vinaigrette that enhances the flavor of the tomatoes. 

Salad dressing in a glass canning jar with a white lid.

To make the salad

  • Prepare the dressing
  • Cut up the tomatoes and place in a bowl
Small colored cherry tomatoes cut in half on a wooden cutting board.
  • Pour dressing over the tomatoes
Vinaigrette being poured over cut tomatoes.
  • Toss lightly and add fresh basil

This salad is best eaten right away. I like to serve it at room temperature. If you prefer, you can cover and refrigerate and serve chilled. 

Variations 

A few delicious variations and substitutions to this salad include:

  • Use all red cherry tomatoes
  • Use large tomatoes cut into small wedges
  • Add small balls of fresh mozzarella
  • Peel and chop a cucumber and add to salad
  • Add thinly sliced sweet onions
Fresh basil in front of a bowl of cherry tomatoes.

Recipe Faqs

How long will this salad last?

This tomato salad is best eaten the same day it is made. If there are leftovers, eat within one day.

If I don't have a garden, where is the best place to get great tomatoes?

Check your local farmers market or a specialty grocery store that carries local produce.

More tasty salads

  • Oriental Chicken Salad
  • Orzo Pasta Salad
  • Pear and Blue Cheese Salad
  • Broccoli Salad
Tomato salad next to a sandwich.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop

Check out all my delicious salad recipes!

  • A bowl filled with Orecchiette Pasta Salad.
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  • Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad in a white bowl.
    Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
  • A small green bowl filled with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing surrounded by fresh veggies.
    Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
  • Easy broccoli salad with bacon bits in a white bowl.
    Easy Broccoli Salad
A white bowl filled with colored tomatoes.

Heirloom Tomato Salad Recipe

Kathy Berget
Tomato salad made with heirloom tomatoes and fresh basil and topped with a light vinaigrette dressing.
5 from 20 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 78 kcal
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2 Cups heirloom cherry tomatoes
  • 2 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon ground dried mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
  • 3-4 leaves fresh basil (sliced thinly)

Instructions
 

  • Slice cherry tomatoes in half lengthwise. Place in a bowl.
  • Place olive oil, vinegar, dried mustard, thyme, salt and pepper into a jar with a lid. Close lid and shake until well combined.
  • Pour dressing over tomatoes.
  • Sprinkle fresh basil over tomatoes.

Notes

Variations 

A few delicious variations and substitutions to this salad include:
  • Use all red cherry tomatoes
  • Use large tomatoes cut into small wedges
  • Add small balls of fresh mozzarella
  • Peel and chop a cucumber and add to salad
  • Add thinly sliced sweet onions

Nutritional Disclaimer:

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cupCalories: 78kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 1gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 154mgPotassium: 162mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 384IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @BeyondTheChickenCoop or tag #beyondthechickencoop!

This recipe was originally posted in April 2016. The pictures and post have been updated.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lisa says

    November 25, 2022 at 7:42 am

    5 stars
    Simply delicious! Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      November 25, 2022 at 10:11 am

      Thank you so much! I appreciate you letting me know you enjoyed it! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

    July 02, 2020 at 4:38 am

    5 stars
    There's nothing like tomatoes this time of year and what a delicious summer salad! I could eat this for every meal of the day, including breakfast!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      July 03, 2020 at 5:34 am

      I'm not certain about breakfast for me, but definitely lunch and dinner! Enjoy 🙂

      Reply
  3. Alexandra Cook says

    June 30, 2020 at 6:19 pm

    5 stars
    I just love a good tomato salad - the flavours cannot be beaten. Especially when they are beautiful homegrown produce!!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      July 03, 2020 at 5:35 am

      Homegrown tomatoes are just simply the best!

      Reply
  4. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

    June 30, 2020 at 8:19 am

    5 stars
    Tomatoes are one of my most favorite things about summer Kathy! This salad is the perfect side for all kinds of dinners!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      July 03, 2020 at 5:35 am

      It's a perfect summer salad!
      Enjoy!

      Reply
  5. David @ Spiced says

    June 30, 2020 at 5:01 am

    5 stars
    I love a good tomato salad, and that dressing sounds fantastic, Kathy! We used to grow heirloom tomatoes in the garden, but somehow we've gotten away from that over the years - now we just buy the starter plants and you don't often find heirloom varieties of those. We can get heirlooms at our grocery store, but they charge an arm and a leg for them. This post might've inspired me to grow our own again next year!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      July 03, 2020 at 5:35 am

      They aren't always easy to find, but any great tomato will work in this salad!

      Reply
  6. annie@ciaochowbambina says

    May 10, 2016 at 11:39 am

    5 stars
    I feel like I missed out on so much while I was away last week! I love this salad!! My mouth is watering just thinking about how sweet and perfect they are!

    Reply
  7. Meghan | Fox and Briar says

    May 09, 2016 at 6:22 pm

    5 stars
    I am such a weirdo, but I don't like tomatoes. I WISH I liked them because they are pretty and I want to make and eat beautiful salads like this. My husband loves them (it is one of the few things we disagree on). And I KNOW he would love this salad, the flavors are on point. I can tell even though I am a tomato hater 🙂

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      May 10, 2016 at 4:35 am

      Oh no....how could you not love tomatoes? Well, I guess it could be true 🙂 We all have things we love and things we just can't stand. For me....I hate peanut butter!

      Reply
  8. Katie Crenshaw says

    May 09, 2016 at 8:04 am

    This is such a beautiful tomato salad Kathy. I am so jealous of your fresh garden tomatoes. I don't get enough sun in my yard to make mine grow ?. But I can get them from our local farmers market. Thanks for the great recipe!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      May 10, 2016 at 4:35 am

      Farmer's markets are the best! Someone always has just what I want and it's super fresh!

      Reply
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5 from 20 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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I'm Kathy, and I love to create delicious recipes from scratch utilizing many ingredients that we grow and raise. I'm a recipe creator, food photographer, and cookbook author!

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