Tomato and Onion Salad with Basil and Capers Recipe
A fresh and vibrant Tomato and Onion Salad featuring a tangy homemade tomato dressing blended with Dijon mustard, white wine vinegar, and fresh herbs. This easy-to-make salad pairs ripe tomato wedges, thinly sliced red onion, capers, and basil for a perfect balance of flavors and textures, ideal as a side dish or a light meal accompaniment.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 1 ½ pound tomatoes, cut into wedges
- ½ small red onion, thinly sliced (or 1 shallot)
- 1 ½ tablespoon capers, drained
- 3 tablespoons basil (or substitute with dill, cilantro, or parsley)
Dressing Ingredients
- 1 small tomato, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar (or champagne vinegar)
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt (plus more to taste)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt (plus more to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare Tomato Dressing: Roughly chop the small tomato and remove its core, keeping the seeds for flavor. Add the chopped tomato, Dijon mustard, white wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, and kosher salt to a mason jar or blender container.
- Blend the Dressing: Using a hand blender or regular blender, blend all the dressing ingredients until smooth and well combined, creating a bright, flavorful tomato dressing.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste the dressing and add additional salt as needed to suit your preference.
- Assemble Tomato Salad: In a large serving bowl, combine the tomato wedges, thinly sliced red onion (or shallot), drained capers, and fresh basil or chosen herb.
- Toss Salad with Dressing: Pour the tomato dressing over the salad ingredients and gently toss to coat everything evenly without bruising the tomatoes.
- Final Seasoning and Serving: Taste the salad and adjust seasoning with extra salt if required. Serve immediately alongside crusty bread, your favorite protein, or pasta for a delicious and refreshing meal or side.
Notes
- Leave the tomato seeds in the dressing for extra flavor and natural sweetness.
- You can substitute basil with other fresh herbs like dill, cilantro, or parsley according to your taste.
- Use fresh, ripe tomatoes for the best flavor and texture.
- This salad is best served fresh but can be refrigerated for up to one day, though tomatoes may release water.
- Pair this salad with grilled meats, seafood, or crusty bread for a balanced meal.
Keywords: tomato salad, onion salad, fresh salad, easy salad, Mediterranean salad, tomato dressing, healthy side dish