This simple Strawberry Tomato Salad with Balsamic pairs sun-ripened strawberries with juicy and tangy cherry tomatoes. All drizzled with some balsamic glaze to create the perfectly vibrant summer side dish.
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Strawberries and tomatoes are two of my favorite summer fruits. Whenever I visit the farmer’s market, I spend much of my time picking the juiciest and ripest ones I can find.
I slice them up, toss in some basil leaves and red onions, drizzle some balsamic glaze, and finish with ground black pepper and almonds.
To ensure my Strawberry Tomato Salad turns out perfectly, I select only the sweetest strawberries I can find. I pair them with tangy yet sweet tomatoes, complimenting them with just the right dash of glaze for a wholesome flavor that reminds me of all things summer.
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Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Tomato Salad Recipe
Vibrant Flavors: This sun-kissed summer salad offers a unique flavor where the strawberries subtly complement the tomatoes rather than for a savory and sweet combination.
Light and Refreshing: Packed with nutrients, this salad is not only light but really refreshing on a hot summer day.
Super Easy to Make: This salad can be prepared in 15 minutes and is versatile enough to complement most main dishes, ideal for any occasion.
Suitable for Most Specialty Diets: This salad is vegan, gluten-free, keto, and paleo-friendly, making it a healthy and nutritious choice.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Fresh Strawberries: Choose sweet and ripe strawberries for best results.
Cherry Tomatoes: I like to work with cherry or grape tomatoes for this salad. Instead of cherry or grape tomatoes, you can use any variety of ripe tomatoes that you have available.
Fresh Basil Leaves: This fresh herb provides a beautiful aromatic flavor. Top with more herbs, such as fresh mint, parsley, cilantro, or dill.
Red Onion: Also known as the salad onion, red onions are a great addition to this recipe for that bright look and crispy give. Red onions can be substituted with shallots, but their flavor is milder.
Balsamic Reduction: This not-so-secret salad booster adds the perfect tangy sweetness to complement the fruits. Instead of a balsamic vinegar reduction, you can use a balsamic vinaigrette or experiment with red wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar.
Ground Black Pepper: Top the salad with ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper for light seasoning.
Slivered Almonds: In addition to providing a much-needed boost of healthy fats, proteins, and fiber, slivered almonds work magic in this salad by offering a satisfying crunch.
How to Make Strawberry Tomato Salad – Step by Step
- Hull the strawberries. Cut them into quarters.
- Next, cut the cherry tomatoes into halves.
- Roll the basil leaves together, chop to create thin strips, and finely dice the red onion.
- Combine the strawberries, tomatoes, chopped basil leaves, and diced red onions in a large bowl.
- Gently fold the ingredients together.
- Top with a drizzle of balsamic glaze, ground black pepper, and slivered almonds. Serve immediately.
Recipe FAQs
Many people think that strawberries and tomatoes aren’t a good fit. However, strawberries’ natural sweetness complements cherry tomatoes’ tangy yet juicy flavor, creating a refreshing combination. This pair works wonderfully well in salads, offering a unique culinary experience.
I recommend preparing the salad before serving to keep the ingredients fresh and crisp. However, if you want to save time, you can prep in advance and combine the ingredients when ready to serve.
For this salad, you will want to choose ripe but firm strawberries. Look for fragrant, bright red ones that are fully ripe yet firm to the touch. As for tomatoes, the best ones are those with firm, taunt skin, a sweet aroma, and a deep color.
To enhance the salad, you can add avocado slices or fresh mint. You can add a creamy element such as goat cheese, fresh mozzarella, or vegan cheese.
Expert Tips
- Toss the ingredients gently to avoid crushing the strawberries and tomatoes.
- For enhanced flavor, let the strawberries and tomatoes sit in the dressing for at least ten minutes before serving.
- Toss a handful of arugula for a heartier salad.
- Keep the salad chilled until it’s ready to serve.
- Use a large, shallow serving dish and arrange the ingredients to showcase vibrant colors.
Serving Suggestions
This quick and easy summer salad can be assembled in under fifteen minutes, making it the perfect light appetizer or side dish to accompany one of your mains at a summer picnic or BBQ.
Pair it with your favorite veggie burger or steamed brown rice as a side dish. If you put it on some crusty bread, this salad can also make for a great light lunch.
Add toppings like spinach, lentils, feta cheese, or walnuts to make it a complete meal. Since this salad works so well with most of the main dishes, it can be customized to suit varying preferences and tastes.
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Storage
You can store leftover strawberry and tomato salad in an airtight container, lasting you for 3 days at the most.
Add freshly chopped basil leaves only when serving. This will enable it to maintain its flavor and texture.
More Vibrant Salad Recipes!
Recipe
Strawberry Tomato Salad
Equipment
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Ingredients
- 1 cup strawberries hulled and quartered
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ¼ cup fresh basil chopped
- ¼ cup red onion finely diced
- 2 tablespoon balsamic glaze
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ cup slivered almonds
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the quartered strawberries and halved cherry tomatoes.
- Add the chopped basil leaves and thinly sliced red onion to the bowl.
- Drizzle the salad with a balsamic glaze, and top with ground black pepper and slivered almonds.
- Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
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- Toss the ingredients gently to avoid crushing the strawberries and tomatoes.
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- For enhanced flavor, let the strawberries and tomatoes sit in the dressing for at least ten minutes before serving.
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- Toss a handful of arugula and toasted nuts like pecans for a heartier and crunchier salad.
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- Keep the salad chilled until it’s ready to serve.
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- For a visually appealing presentation, use a large yet shallow serving dish and arrange the ingredients to showcase the vibrant colors.
- You can store leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days.
- For a visually appealing presentation, use a large yet shallow serving dish and arrange the ingredients to showcase the vibrant colors.
Alison Corey
You wouldn’t think it, but the strawberries and the balsamic really compliment one another.