Looking for fresh tomato recipes? You'll love this Tomato Onion Salad! This easy recipe pairs juicy tomatoes with red onions and a mouthwatering French vinaigrette. It's super quick and easy to make and so delicious ... the perfect summer side dish or light meal!
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
I love cooking with fresh tomatoes, and this is the best time of year to enjoy them! My local farmers market and grocery store are overflowing with the most delicious heirloom tomatoes, and I find them impossible to resist.
While I have my favorite recipes for using fresh tomatoes (like Pan con Tomate and this easy Tomato Sauce), sometimes simple is best! And that's when I like to make this mouthwatering Marinated Tomato and Onion Salad.
You are going to LOVE this delicious summer salad! It's inspired by Salade de Tomates, a French Provençal recipe that's all about showcasing fresh summer produce. The recipe pairs juicy tomatoes with zesty red onions and fragrant basil, and the salad is dressed with a homemade French Vinaigrette that adds even more flavor.
The best part? This recipe truly couldn't be easier to make, which means you'll be in and out of the kitchen in no time! Serve this simple salad as a side dish or pair it with some crusty bread for a light meal ... it's wonderful either way and great for summer parties, too!
Ready to get started? Then keep reading for all the details!
Ingredients
This recipe uses simple, easy to find ingredients! Here's what you'll need:
- Tomatoes - Because they're the star of the recipe, you'll want to use the freshest, tastiest tomatoes you can find. I used heirloom tomatoes, however almost any variety will work, from beefsteak to cherry.
- Onions - Bold red onions are the perfect counterpart to the sweet tomatoes. And I have an easy trick that tones down their sharp bite, ensuring that they don't overpower the salad.
- Basil - A little fresh basil brightens up the whole dish!
- Salad Dressing - The recipe features a homemade French Vinaigrette, my favorite vinegar and oil dressing. This classic vinaigrette is very easy to make with red wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, dijon mustard, shallots, salt, and pepper.
- More - You can easily customized this recipe by adding cucumbers, different herbs, and more! Check out the Variations section below for lots of ideas.
This recipe is naturally vegetarian, vegan, dairy free, gluten free, and nut free, which means that almost anyone at your table can enjoy it!
You'll Also Need
You will need a bowl (and a whisk) or small jar (mason jars work great) to make the dressing, as well as a sharp knife and cutting board to prep the veggies. You'll also want to grab a large bowl for mixing the ingredients together.
How to Make Tomato Onion Salad
This simple Tomato Salad couldn't be easier to make! You'll find a detailed recipe card below, but here's an overview of the steps:
- Make dressing. You'll start by preparing the dressing. Simply combine the olive oil, vinegar, dijon mustard, shallots, salt, and pepper in a small bowl (or jar). Then whisk (or shake) everything together until the dressing looks thick and creamy.
- Prep veggies. Once the dressing is done, set it aside and prepare your veggies. You'll want to slice the basil, cut the tomatoes into wedges, and thinly slice the onion. To remove the sharp bite from the onion, rinse it with cold water in a fine mesh strainer, then blot dry. Tip: Rinsing the onion is optional, but it helps balance the salad's flavors.
- Combine ingredients. To finish the salad, gently mix the tomatoes, onions, basil, and vinaigrette together. Then season to taste with salt and pepper.
All right, time to enjoy your gorgeous Tomato Onion Salad! Wasn't that easy to make?
Variations
This Red Onion and Tomato Salad is easily customized according to taste and by what ingredients are in your pantry! Here are a few ideas to try:
- Tomatoes - Don't save this recipe just for heirloom tomatoes, it works with almost any variety (as long as they're fresh and flavorful), including grape tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, beefsteak, brandywine, garden fresh, vine-ripened, and more.
- Onions - Feel free to use other onion varieties. If you're not an onion fan, you could also leave them out or replace them with shallots, which have a milder flavor.
- Dressing - Swap in other vinegar-based salad dressings for the French Vinaigrette, such as or this Lemon and Olive Oil Dressing, Red Wine Vinaigrette, Honey Lemon Salad Dressing, or Maple Vinaigrette.
- Herbs - Substitute almost any fresh herb (or use a combination of herbs) for the basil, including parsley, thyme, rosemary, tarragon, mint, oregano, chives, cilantro, and more.
- Cucumbers - Crunchy cucumbers would make a wonderful addition to this recipe! Slice them thinly before adding to the salad.
- Cheese - Sprinkle the finished salad with crumbled feta or goat cheese, or mix in some fresh mozzarella.
- Olives + Other Preserved Ingredients - Briny olives (such as kalamata or castelvetrano) would add a tasty flavor boost, as would capers, sun dried tomatoes, and artichoke hearts.
- Peaches - For something unexpected (but delicious), toss in some fresh peaches for a sweet-savory twist on the original recipe.
Serving Suggestions
This simple salad makes the perfect summer side dish, although it's just as delicious paired with crusty bread for a light meal on a hot day! The recipe is easy enough for busy weeknights, but sure to impress guests at all your summer parties, BBQs, and get togethers, too.
Pair the salad with simple sandwiches (try it with this Vegan Hummus Sandwich or this Broccoli Rabe Grilled Cheese), veggie burgers (like these Mushroom Swiss Burgers or these Greek Veggie Burgers), or a summery main dish (such as this Peach Pizza or this Roasted Tomato Pasta). Serve it alongside other side dishes too, like this French Potato Salad, Mexican Grilled Corn, Nectarine Salad, Old Bay Potato Wedges, or this yummy Bulgur Salad.
Storage
This salad has the best taste and texture when served the day it's made. However, if you do have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in your refrigerator for two to three days. You may need to re-season the salad with a little salt and pepper before serving.
Tip: If you're preparing this Onion and Tomato Salad for an event, I'd suggest making the dressing in advance. Then prep the other ingredients and toss everything together just before serving.
Related Recipes
Looking for more fresh tomato ideas? Try one of these tasty recipes next:
- Easiest Pasta Salad
- Tomato Crostini
- Roasted Tomato Sauce
- Tomato Galette
- Caprese Salad with Burrata Cheese
- Tomato Ricotta Toast
- Pizza Caprese
- Tomato Basil Fried Rice
Searching for more salads? You can find all my salad recipes here!
Tomato Onion Salad
Ingredients
For Salad Dressing:
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons finely diced shallots
- ½ tablespoon dijon mustard (1 ½ teaspoons)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- pepper
For Salad:
- ½ medium red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 extra-large tomatoes, cut into wedges (see note)
- handful fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
Instructions
Prepare Dressing:
- Combine olive oil, vinegar, shallots, mustard, salt, and a few grinds pepper in a small bowl (or jar).
- Whisk (or shake, if using a jar) ingredients together until dressing looks thick and creamy.
- Season to taste with additional salt and pepper, if desired.
Prepare Salad:
- Place sliced red onion in a fine mesh strainer, then rinse well for cold water. Blot dry with paper towels.
- Combine onions, tomatoes, basil, and ¼ cup dressing (you will have extra) in a large bowl. Mix well.
- Season salad to taste with additional salt and pepper, and add more dressing, if needed.
- Serve salad immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
