Heirloom Tomato Salad with Basil Recipe
When choosing heirloom tomatoes, toss out all of your usual expectations for uniform scarlet orbs. In a riot of weird shapes and exotic colorations, these beauties elevate a simple summer salad to the level or art. Don’t worry about precise proportions for the dressing—simply slice, sprinkle and enjoy.
Ingredients
| 4 | pounds | heirloom tomatoes* |
| 1 | pint | cherry tomatoes (use multiple colors if available) |
| 1 | teaspoon | sugar** |
| 1 | teaspoon | salt |
| 1 | teaspoon | freshly ground black pepper |
| ~ | balsamic vinegar | |
| ~ | extra virgin olive oil | |
| ~ | fresh basil leaves, chiffonade cut |
| *Select the widest variety of colors, sizes and shapes you can find for a beautiful presentation.***Add the sugar only if tomatoes are not 100% ripe and are in need of sweetening.
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Directions
- Slice the large tomatoes ¼-inch thick. If you like, cut some of the more exotic tomatoes in quarters for contrast.
- Sprinkle the sugar, salt and pepper over the tomatoes and toss.
- Arrange the tomatoes on a decorative platter and drizzle with the balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.
- Sprinkle the basil chiffonade over the top.
- Cover with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld. Do not refrigerate, which compromises the flavor of the tomatoes.
Preparation Time:
Under 10 minutes, plus 1 hour downtime
