This awesome heirloom tomato salad recipe is one for the home cooks who love throwing a few, uber high quality ingredients together to form a perfect union. In this tomato salad, the ingredients absolutely make the difference and if skimping is the only option, you might not experience the ethereal feeling which comes from a ripe tomato. My husband thinks I’m a bit of a lunatic when it comes to tomatoes but biting into a mealy, flavorless piece of fruit just isn’t my idea of good eatin’. So shop carefully if you can’t grow them yourself. Note: You don’t have to use “heirloom” tomatoes for this recipe but ripe is crucial. (Read: How to pick fresh, seasonal produce)
Heirloom Tomato Salad with Feta Cheese
3-4 large, ripe tomatoes
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Extra virgin olive oil (EV is important because of the fragrant olive flavor. Read What exactly is good olive oil?)
Aged balsamic vinegar
Crumbled feta cheese
Directions:
1. Slice tomatoes in 1/4 inch slices and place on a platter. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
2. Drizzle each tomato with dash of balsamic vinegar — try to get all of them not soaked but splashed. Do the same with the olive oil.
3. Generously sprinkle all the tomatoes with the feta cheese. Have some fresh basil on hand? Chop it up and throw it on top.
4. Savor every bite.
Pair this salad with sparkling wine as an appetizer or as a side dish with Pesto and Smoked Salmon Pasta or Spicy Black Bean Soup.
