There is nothing better on a hot day than a cold crunchy salad. Cool off with a fresh summer tomato salad made from sliced red onions, capers, garden tomatoes, and fresh parsley. Toss it in an easy vinaigrette and make a salad for a BBQ or just a quick lunch.
The time of summer has come where the complaints have shifted from “When is it finally going to feel like summer?” to “OMG IT’S SO HOT!” and nobody is eeeeever happy. I like to dwell and revel in the mid-seventies and sunny kind of weather. My hair and body operate best in those conditions.
In case you are new here, lemme introduce myself. Hi, my name is Stefanie. I get heat rash and am inexplicably sweaty in any sunny, hot weather over 80 degrees. I am also allergic to mosquito bites. As you can tell, me and the outdoors are basically the odd couple.
My two boys and now both dogs could be outdoors all day. Which is just great, grand, wonderful (sarcasm)! They wake up and want to go outside immediately. They are also mad when I drag them in at 7:30pm or 8pm. How dare I suggest they try to get a good night sleep?!?!?
I actually do love summer. The late bedtimes, fewer obligations, water balloon fights, more sunlight, and a cold beer out on the umbrella-covered deck. I just think sometimes summer doesn’t like me or, maybe better yet, my body doesn’t quite fit in with Chicago summer weather. Meh. Whaddya gunna do?
My true summertime love, that also loves me back, is the tomato.
I love seeing all sorts of varieties in the store at way lower prices than I am used to paying throughout the year. When I was little I used to eat tomatoes like apples. I fear if I did this now, my husband might vomit while watching me bite into all those seeds.
Fresh summer tomato salad is a few tomatoes cut into wedges served with sliced red onion, capers, and fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley. The vinaigrette could not be simpler. A dash of red wine vinegar and a little olive oil along with salt, pepper, and garlic. That’s it!
The tomatoes, onions, and capers all play so nicely together that you don’t even need much vinaigrette or dressing. Serve this as a side for a BBQ, a salad for lunch or dinner, or even better, serve it over some simply grilled chicken or pork chops.
You will be able to find so many uses for this simple summer side.
Fresh Summer Tomato Salad
Fresh garden tomato salad with a light vinaigrette, red onions, capers, and parsley.
Ingredients
- 4 garden fresh tomatoes, sliced into 6-8 wedges each
- 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 1/2 tbsp capers, drained
- 1 big pinch of fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, grated or finely minced
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp red wine vinegar
- pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Add the tomatoes, onion, capers and parsley to a bowl.
- Mix together the olive oil, salt, pepper, vinegar, garlic, and crushed red pepper in a small mixing bowl.
- Pour dressing over the salad. Toss to combine. Serve at room temp or slightly chilled.
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