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    Home » Recipes » Holiday » Vegetarian Memorial Day Recipes

    Heirloom Tomato Salad

    Published: Jun 2, 2021 · Updated: May 4, 2022 by Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC · 21 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    A hand serving a bowl of heirloom tomato salad.

    This refreshing heirloom tomato salad is perfect for your next lunch, summer BBQ, potluck, or picnic! Made with juicy heirloom tomatoes tossed in a delicious vinaigrette, serve this salad with slices of toasted baguette or on its own as a delicious side!

    A hand serving a bowl of heirloom tomato salad.

    The star of this salad is the heirloom tomatoes. With them being in peak season right now, this is the best time of the year to make a refreshing heirloom tomato salad with a handful of simple ingredients.

    Enjoy it as a delicious side or on its own. It makes a delicious side salad for lunch, a dinner party, or even a picnic or summer BBQ!

    What are Heirloom Tomatoes?

    What makes an heirloom tomato so special is its seeds. Seeds are passed down season to season, from one generation to another, to produce the fruit with the desired size, shape, color, and juiciness level.

    Heirloom tomatoes are pollinated naturally by nature, thus no genetically modified tomatoes. And while there are actually many types of heirloom tomatoes, it comes down to the following four:

    • Commercial heirlooms
    • Family heirlooms
    • Mystery heirlooms
    • Created heirlooms

    Pro-Tip: Since heirloom tomatoes are more delicate and have thinner skin, handle them with care and don't pile them up in a bag.

    A close-up of the salad.

    What You'll Need to Make this Salad

    You'll need the following ingredients to make this juicy and delicious heirloom tomato salad:

    Heirloom tomatoes: When heirloom tomatoes are in season, you can find them at most farmers markets and grocery stores.

    Cherry tomatoes: These can either be heirloom cherry tomatoes or just regular ones. These will add variety in flavor and shape!

    Corn: Fresh seasonal corn adds sweetness to this salad and a little crunch. You can either use steamed, roasted, or grilled corn! However, for this recipe, I'm using steamed corn.

    Fresh greens: I'm using fresh arugula for this recipe but you can also use a spring mix or spinach.

    Fresh herbs: Chopped basil, thyme, parsley, all make delicious additions to this salad and add even more flavor.

    Dressing ingredients: For the dressing, we use a simple dressing consisting of extra-virgin olive oil, lime juice, salt, and pepper.

    How to Make an Heirloom Tomato Salad

    1. Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

    2. Make the salad: In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, corn, and fresh herbs. Drizzle with dressing and gently toss.

    Enjoy it with a slice of toasted baguette or as a side salad to a bigger meal.

    Pro-Tip: because of how tomatoes hang on the vine, their sweetest part is usually at the bottom. Cutting the tomatoes from the top will give each piece some sweetness whereas cutting them cross-wise is more visually appealing.

    A bowl of heirloom tomato salad.

    Tips on Making the Best Heirloom Tomato Salad

    Don't add the dressing until you're ready to serve the salad to prevent the greens from getting soggy. Or skip the greens altogether.

    In my experience, tomatoes taste the best within a few days of purchasing. I don't store them in the fridge as they tend to get fleshy and lose their juicy sweet flavor.

    If you eat dairy, fresh mozzarella cheese or goat cheese make tasty additions to this salad.

    To get a tangier salad, replace the lime juice in the dressing with balsamic vinegar.

    Add slices of avocado for a creamier texture. Avocados pair well with tomatoes, corn, and make a lovely addition in this salad!

    A couple plates with salad on them.

    More Delicious Salad Recipes

    • Pesto Pasta Salad
    • Strawberry Arugula Salad
    • Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
    • Citrus Avocado Salad
    • Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

    I hope you love this heirloom tomato salad recipe as much as I do! Sign up for email updates to receive new recipes delivered to your inbox or check out my new cookbook Plant Power Bowls.

    A bowl of heirloom tomato salad

    Heirloom Tomato Salad

    5 from 14 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep time: 10 minutes
    Total time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 204kcal
    Author: Sapana Chandra
    Make this refreshing heirloom tomato salad for your next lunch, BBQ, potluck, or summer picnic! Made with juicy heirloom tomatoes tossed in a delicious vinaigrette, serve this summer salad with slices of toasted baguette!

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds heirloom tomatoes, about 4 heirloom tomatoes
    • 1 cup cherry tomatoes or heirloom cherry tomatoes
    • 1 cup fresh corn kernels
    • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, minced
    • 2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
    • 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped

    Dressing:

    • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon lime juice
    • salt and pepper, to taste

    Instructions

    • Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
    • In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, corn, and fresh herbs. Drizzle with dressing and gently toss.

    Notes

    Don't add the dressing until you're ready to serve the salad to prevent the greens from getting soggy. Or skip the greens altogether!
    In my experience, tomatoes taste the best within a few days of purchasing. I don't store them in the fridge as they tend to get fleshy and lose their juicy sweet flavor.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 204kcal, Carbohydrates: 18g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 23mg, Potassium: 744mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 2448IU, Vitamin C: 49mg, Calcium: 37mg, Iron: 2mg
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Tried this recipe?Mention @realandvibrant and hashtag #realandvibrant!

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    About Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC

    Sapana Chandra is a certified health coach, author of Plant Power Bowls, and founder of Real +Vibrant. Here you’ll find simply delicious vegetarian recipes with step-by-step photo instructions – recipes you’ll be excited to enjoy and share with your loved ones.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jackie says

      June 28, 2021 at 4:42 pm

      This was fantastic! Perfect summer salad and very easy to throw together!5 stars

      Reply
    2. Jamie says

      July 26, 2019 at 2:46 pm

      Such good flavors in this recipe. My family loved it! We'll be making it again.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra says

        August 12, 2019 at 6:21 pm

        So happy to hear your family loved it, Jamie!

        Reply
    3. Colleen says

      July 26, 2019 at 12:54 pm

      A perfect summer salad for using those garden tomatoes. Thanks for the info on heirloom tomatoes, too.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra says

        August 12, 2019 at 6:21 pm

        Thank you for stopping by, Colleen!

        Reply
    4. Marisa F. Stewart says

      July 26, 2019 at 12:49 pm

      That salad is a real beauty!! It is so inviting and the colors are gorgeous. I really like the touch of corn with the heirloom tomatoes. You are so right with adding those tomatoes versus the regular tasteless ones. Makes eating salad special instead of feeling like your grazing on greens. The dressing is simple -- perfect addition to the salad.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra says

        August 12, 2019 at 6:22 pm

        Thank you so much, Marisa! I appreciate your feedback and I'm so glad you like it!

        Reply
    5. Jen says

      July 26, 2019 at 11:38 am

      I made this over the weekend when I was looking for something to do with the the leftover corn on the cob. Everyone really enjoyed it for Sunday dinner.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra says

        August 12, 2019 at 6:22 pm

        So happy to hear, Jen!

        Reply
    6. Diana Reis says

      July 26, 2019 at 11:29 am

      Nothing like serving up a fresh bowl of summer. This is so yummy. All of my favorite summer foods in one bowl. Thanks for the recipe.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra says

        August 12, 2019 at 6:22 pm

        You're so welcome, Diana!

        Reply
    7. Karly says

      July 07, 2019 at 10:57 am

      I could go for this salad right now! Delish!

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra says

        July 08, 2019 at 9:29 am

        Thanks, Karly! So glad to hear!

        Reply
    8. Noelle says

      July 05, 2019 at 1:53 pm

      A perfect summer salad, love all the ingredients.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra says

        July 06, 2019 at 10:23 am

        Thanks, Noelle! I've always been a fan of heirloom tomatoes and wanted to keep this simple.Thanks for stopping by!

        Reply
    9. Mikayla says

      July 05, 2019 at 1:18 pm

      I look forward to heirloom tomatoes ALL year, but I actually love every part of this salad!!! It's the kind of salad I'm really happy to eat, and crave it when it's gone!5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra says

        July 06, 2019 at 10:25 am

        Yes!! Heirloom tomatoes are truly special and like no other. Glad to hear you love them just as much!

        Reply
    10. Patty at Spoonabilities says

      July 05, 2019 at 12:03 pm

      I love love love all the flavors and colors in this salad. I am sure this would be a total hit to bring to a picnic!5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra says

        July 06, 2019 at 10:45 am

        Thanks, Patty!! It's perfect for a picnic!

        Reply
    11. Raia Todd says

      July 05, 2019 at 10:48 am

      Oh my goodness. What a gorgeous summer salad! I'm sure my family will love it!5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra says

        July 06, 2019 at 12:46 pm

        Thanks so much, Raia! I’m happy you loved the recipe. 🙂

        Reply

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    Sapana Chandra

    Hi, I'm Sapana! I’m a recipe developer and author of the cookbook Plant Power Bowls. Here you'll find simple, delicious, vegetarian recipes made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Learn more about me

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