Fresh Tomato Salad

One of the best things about summer is garden-fresh tomatoes. What's even better is taking those tomatoes and making a Fresh Tomato Salad that's a great side dish to accompany our Family Favorite Chicken Recipes. Let me show you how to make the easiest tomato salad your family is going to love.

Every year we try our best to grow a few varieties in our backyard garden. And every year we wait patiently for the tomatoes to ripen so we can enjoy this juicy tomato salad that's perfect as a side dish when serving grilled barbecue chicken.

Read more about how to grow amazing tomatoes and the steps we take to grow tomatoes in our garden every summer.

You need garden-fresh tomatoes from your own garden or a farmer's market. If you don't have a backyard garden, take a trip to the local farmer's market and grab a bunch of tomatoes. You'll be happy you did once you taste this Fresh Tomato Salad.

Make sure you also serve a few rustic French baguettes to dip into the juices this salad produces. My mother says that's the best part of this recipe!

• Grape tomatoes - are fun to use because you don't really have to cut or slice them. Just toss them with the dressing and the salad is done!
• Roma or Plum tomatoes - they have a real garden flavor to them and are great in a salad, but even more so, they're great in marinara sauces.
• Heirloom tomatoes are also great for a salad. They're also delicious sliced on top of a sandwich.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

• Air-tight container
• Salad dressing mixer
• Glass mixing bowl set
• Measuring cups

Ingredients

This is an overview of the ingredients and instructions. Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact quantities, detailed instructions and special notes.

• Tomatoes
• Fresh mozzarella cheese
• Salad dressing - I like to use my Homemade Italian Salad Dressing.
• Fresh chopped basil and parsley

Directions

Cut the tomatoes into chunks. Slice the fresh mozzarella cheese into bite sized pieces. You can also choose to use pearl sized fresh mozzarella. That wasn't available for me when I was in the grocery store the other day.

Next add the herbs. I always suggest using fresh herbs when making this fresh tomato salad. Add the fresh chopped parsley.

Then add the chopped fresh basil.

Homemade Italian Salad Dressing

I have made this recipe using bottled salad dressing as well. However, I do enjoy the taste of my homemade recipe. I love mixing the ingredients together and storing them in this handy salad dressing mixer bottle. There is a whisk attached to the cap that allows you to mix the ingredients up perfectly right before pouring the dressing.

Toss all the ingredients into a bowl and add the Homemade Italian salad dressing to coat. Season with salt and pepper if necessary. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

How do you store Tomato Salad

Fresh tomato salad is best eaten the day it's prepared but it will last up to a day or maybe two if you store it in an air-tight container. Of course this is contingent on the fact that you actually have leftovers.

Tried this recipe? Let me know in the comments and don't forget to rate it!

Ready for more great recipes?

• German Cucumber Salad - just like my Oma used to make.
• Ranch Salad Dressing
• Tuna Nicoise Salad

This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2013 with new photos and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!