WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
A simple, made-in-minutes tomato salad is one of the elemental joys of summer. This recipe starts with the ripest tomatoes you can find, either at the farmers’ market or at the grocery store. Because tomatoes are already fairly acidic, we found that a dressing made with the typical 3:1 ratio of oil to acid was too sharp here. Adjusting the amount of lemon juice to minimize the acidity perfectly balanced the salad. A minced shallot added just a bit of sweetness, toasted pine nuts added a buttery nuttiness, and both contributed crunch. Torn basil leaves completed the salad with a fresh herbal note. The success of this recipe depends on using ripe, in-season tomatoes. Serve with crusty bread to sop up the dressing.
SERVES: 4 to 6
TOTAL TIME: 15 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
- 1½ pounds mixed ripe tomatoes, cored and sliced ¼ inch thick
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced shallot
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
- 1 tablespoon torn fresh basil leaves
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Start by coring the tomatoes and slicing them into ¼ inch thick slices. Arrange the slices on a large, shallow platter.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, minced shallot, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
- Spoon the dressing over the tomatoes, making sure to coat them evenly.
- Toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat until lightly browned and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
- Sprinkle the toasted pine nuts over the tomatoes.
- Tear the fresh basil leaves into small pieces and sprinkle them over the top of the salad.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
VARIATIONS:
SIMPLE TOMATO SALAD WITH CAPERS AND PARSLEY OMIT PINE NUTS
- Add 1 tablespoon rinsed capers, 1 rinsed and minced anchovy fillet, and ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes to dressing.
- Substitute chopped fresh parsley for basil.
SIMPLE TOMATO SALAD WITH PECORINO ROMANO AND OREGANO
- Add ½ teaspoon grated lemon zest and ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes to dressing.
- Substitute 1 ounce shaved Pecorino Romano cheese for pine nuts and 2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano for basil.
