Easy Marinated Tomato Salad Recipe

Discover the simplicity of creating an Italian marinated tomato salad with fresh summer tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, fresh basil, and salt. This easy recipe offers a perfect summer side dish that captures the essence of the season.

The simplicity of this marinated tomato salad makes it both easy to prepare and simple to pair with a wide variety of main dishes.

It is my go-to summer side dish, whether pairing it with chicken spiedini or adding it to an Italian green salad. I am always amazed at how flavorful this salad becomes, especially after it sits in its juices for 5-10 minutes.

This insalata di pomodori takes little time to make and always leaves a lasting impression on anyone who tastes it. It is easy enough for a casual BBQ party but attractive enough for sit-down dinner parties, so you cannot go wrong with this choice.

Whenever you have access to fresh garden tomatoes, it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy their pure flavor with just the best-tasting olive oil, fresh basil, wine vinegar, and salt. That’s all you need—no black pepper, balsamic vinegar, or other additions are necessary for this authentic Italian salad with tomatoes.

Everyone at the picnic or around the dinner table will reach for this tasty side again and again.

Here’s how I make it and some handy notes about the ingredients…

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• How to make
• Tips
• FAQ 
• Easy recipes with fresh tomatoes
• Recipe inspiration
• Recipe

Ingredients

• Tomatoes: Ripe, fresh tomatoes are the star of this dish. Experiment with different varieties, such as heirlooms or cherry tomatoes.
• Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil adds a rich, fruity flavor to the salad. If desired, you can use light olive oil for a milder taste or even try infused olive oils like garlic or herb-infused varieties for added depth of flavor.
• Red Wine Vinegar: The vinegar adds a tangy kick to the salad. If red wine vinegar is unavailable, balsamic vinegar or a splash of lemon juice can be flavorful alternatives.
• Basil: Fresh basil lends a delightful herbaceous note to the salad. If basil is not on hand, consider using other fresh herbs such as Italian parsley, cilantro, or mint for a unique twist.
• Kosher Salt: This ingredient enhances the overall flavor of the salad. For a finishing touch, consider using Maldon salt.

How to make

Cutting up the tomatoes and mixing all the ingredients takes a very short amount of time. As long as you have everything on hand, you can serve this salad with any meal in less than ten minutes.

1. Wash and pat dry. Trim the stem ends of 2-3 tomatoes.
2. Place on a cutting board and cut them into wedges, slices, or chunks, depending on the variety of tomatoes. Cut cherry or grape tomatoes in half.
3. Transfer chopped tomatoes to a large bowl.
4. Drizzle 2-4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 1 teaspoon of red wine vinegar and kosher salt to taste.
5. Toss around all the tomatoes for full coverage.
6. Add freshly torn basil leaves (3-4 sprigs) and transfer them to a large shallow dish.
7. Set aside for 5 minutes for the flavors to blend and then serve with crusty Italian bread or focaccia.
   
   

Tips

• The best time of the year to make this salad is during the peak of summer when local tomatoes are in season and available. These tomatoes usually ripen on the vine and not with chemicals.
• Use a good quality olive oil. You will taste the difference it makes. 
• Do not remove the tomato juices, as they contain so much flavor. Taste your salad and adjust the seasonings. 
• Since this is a marinated salad, soaking the tomatoes in red wine vinegar and basil makes the dish more flavorful.
• Serve this salad at room temperature; there is no need to refrigerate it. Although many people store tomatoes in the refrigerator, they are more flavorful when left out. Of course, you can keep leftovers of this salad in the fridge until the next day.
• Enhance the flavor of your simple tomato salad by adding ingredients like sliced red onion, crushed garlic, olives, or capers. A small amount of dried oregano can also be a great addition, but be cautious as it can easily overpower the fruitiness of the tomatoes.
• Add a protein source like diced chicken, canned tuna, or beans to transform this side dish into a main meal. Crumbled feta cheese is another excellent option.

FAQ 

Easy recipes with fresh tomatoes

Whether you have an abundance of garden tomatoes or recently visited your farmers market and could not resist buying fresh local tomatoes, here are some delicious and easy tomato recipes for you to make throughout the summer.

Recipe inspiration

Growing up Italian meant having an urban garden in the backyard with fresh summer produce and herbs.

My mom would patiently start her tomato plants indoors. She would always place her seedlings next to the window with the most significant amount of sunlight. This was my cue that summer was within reach, even though there would sometimes still be snow on the ground.

During the peak of tomato season, she often made this insalata di pomodori, which is Italian for a tomato salad with her homegrown ripe tomatoes and fresh basil. I am always amazed at how flavorful this salad becomes, especially after it sits in its juices for 5-10 minutes.

Despite how plain it looks, once you taste ity, you will make it throughout summer. You will want to serve it with my mom’s Italian focaccia recipe to mop up those delicious tomato juices.  

This recipe will quickly become one of your favorite ways to savor fresh garden tomatoes until late summer. 

Enjoy!

★★★★★ If you have made this recipe for fresh tomato salad, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

Recipe

I originally published this post on August 13, 2021, and republished it on June 4, 2024, with updated content and a video. Thanks for sharing.