Tomato and Basil Salad with Chive Vinaigrette Recipe
Summery Tomato Basil Salad with Chive Vinaigrette, made with heirloom tomatoes, sweet and purple basil dressed in a chive vinaigrette with a burst of fresh lemon.
Servings 4 people
Calories 166kcal
Ingredients
- 2 lb heirloom tomatoes (mixed sizes and colors)
- 5 sprigs sweet or Genoese basil
- 5 sprigs purple basil
- 1 shallot thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 lemon juiced
- 1/2 tsp sea salt + more to taste
- 1/2 bunch chives snipped
- 5 chives for garnish roughly chopped
- chive blossoms for garnish
- basil blossoms for garnish
Instructions
- In a small jar add the olive oil, lemon juice , snipped chives and sea salt. Shake together until combined. Taste and adjust seasonings with more sea salt and lemon juice until happy. You can also process the vinaigrette in a blender for a smooth texture.
- Cut the heirloom tomatoes into wedges and arrange in a medium serving bowl. Sprinkle with the sliced shallot and the basil leaves (reserve some for garnish). Drizzle with the chive vinaigrette all over and toss to coat just before serving.
- Adjust seasonings with some sea salt flakes and garnish with the reserved basil leaves and blossoms.
Notes
- How to store basil salad? - Honestly, don’t store it at all if you can help it. Basil leaves wilt, especially with any added dressing and tomatoes tend to get mealy in a cold refrigerator. Eat it as soon as you make it to let those heirloom tomatoes and purple basil show off their splendor.
- What are the best tomatoes for salad? - I’m pretty sure I made this pretty clear...use heirloom tomatoes for the best tomato salad ever. Of course, if you must, you can use other large tomatoes, but don’t do that to yourself.
- Best oils for tomato salad? - Olive oil is the best oil you can pair with a tomato. Honestly, there are times I don’t even add oil because these fresh heirloom tomatoes release the most divine juices and when combined with some acid and and a pinch of sea salt produce an amazing flavor.
- Can I add more ingredients? - Of course, cucumbers, capers, crunchy peppers, scallions, go wild if you want!
Nutrition
Calories: 166kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 303mg | Potassium: 577mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2213IU | Vitamin C: 33mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg