Simple Quick and Easy Italian Tomato Salad Recipe

Simple Quick and Easy Italian Tomato Salad Recipe: This easy Italian tomato salad is made with just a few ingredients and contains no oil (trust me, you will NOT miss it) – we made this salad years ago in a little Italian restaurant in Philadelphia. All these years later, I still think about and enjoy this salad – that’s when you know it’s really really good!

Table of Contents

Simple Quick and Easy Italian Tomato Salad Recipe

INGREDIENTS

2 pounds (907.18 g) fresh tomatoes (8 small tomatoes per pound)
1 medium red onion sliced thinly
fresh basil large handful, chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
1/3 cup (79.67 g) red wine vinegar
1/4 cup (59.15 g) water
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Add all ingredients to a large bowl and toss so that everything is well distributed and evenly seasoned.
Taste, and add more salt if needed.
Cover, place in the refrigerator and let marinate for at least 3 hours.

Marinating the Tomatoes: The Salad Dressing

One of the things that makes this Italian tomato salad unique is that it contains no oil, and no cheese. I don’t totally avoid either of those ingredients but if a recipe is good without those extras, I say why not?

When you leave this salad marinate over a few hours, the salt acts via osmosis to extract/release the natural juices in the tomatoes. When this juice is mixed with the vinegar and added to the aromatics and herbs (ie, garlic, onion, and basil) the result is absolutely phenomenal!

Serving and Storage

Store this salad in the refrigerator immediately after making it and if you have any leftovers. Generally, the salad is good for 1 to 2 days afterwards, depending on how ripe your tomatoes are to start.

Best served cold or at room temperature with some hearty bread for sopping up the natural juices that will collect at the bottom of the bowl.