Name: Tomato Basil Salad {Garden Delight}
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 2 min
Total time: 12 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: International
Ingredients: 1 lb. tomatoes, ripe from the vine preferred; 1/2 of a small red onion; 1 bunch fresh basil; 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar; 1 tbsp. olive oil, virgin olive oil is preferred

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Tomato Salad with Basil featuring a splash of balsamic vinegar and virgin olive oil, along with thin sliced red onions, is so naturally tasty and easy to make. The strong basil aroma complements the tomatoes perfectly. The red onions elevated the dish by adding the contrasting texture, color and flavor.

This is one of our summer garden delights. When tomatoes and basil are thriving in our backyard vegetable garden, this is a quick, easy and tasty way of enjoying them.

Tomatoes growing on the vine in our vegetable garden

Balsamic Vinegar Fun Facts

Balsamic Vinegar is a traditional Greek vinegar made from grapes. I often equate Balsamic Vinegar to traditional Chinese Zhenjiang Vinegar.

Both are super rich, extremely dark, and take years to complete the fermenting & aging process. Also, ancient people use whatever they have locally. For Italian, it is grapes; for Chinese, it is sweet rice and wheat bran. I have to say, both did outstanding jobs.

I am a big fan of both, such a simple and rich flavored condiment that makes everything tastes better. My kind of salad is just to add a teaspoon of balsamic vinegar to the bowl. Brussels Sprouts with balsamic and cranberries is one of our family’s favorite.

Basil plays a huge role flavoring this refreshingly yummy Tomato Salad with Basil

Varieties of Basil Growing in Our Vegetable Garden

Basil Fun Facts

Basil is an aromatic green leafy herb that belongs to mint family. While they are well-known for Italian or Mediterranean cuisine, basil is actually originated in Asia and Africa.

There are many varieties of basil. I think we grew at least two types of basil in our backyard vegetable garden this year.

The small, round, and smooth leafy one is sweet basil, which is most widely grown and most commonly seen in the grocery store. Sweet basil is popular with Italian food.

The large, wrinkled, and pointy leafy one is lettuce basil. They work especially well in salads.

Basil is an impressive Superfood Herb

Basil is an extremely healthy and nutritious herb that contains rich essential vitamins and minerals. Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Calcium, Iron and Manganese. Just to name a few.

Regarding its health benefits, experts believe basil can help restore our body and mind in many ways. For instance, mitigate stress, fight against aging, reduce blood pressure, improve cholesterol, prevent certain cancers, so on and forth.

It is truly an amazing herb, highly recommend for every home vegetable garden.

How to make a perfectly tasty Tomato Salad with Basil?

Tomato Basil Salad {Easy Delicious and Healthy}

Tip No.1 is to use ripe-from-the vine tomatoes if possible for Tomato Salad with Basil

Ripe-from-the vine tomatoes are so juicy, sweet and naturally delicious. I plant many varieties of tomatoes in our backyard vegetable garden. I usually use plum, cherry or grape tomatoes for the salad. However, this recipe works for all kinds of tomatoes.

Home Vegetable Garden Grown Tomato Varieties

Tip No.2 is the use the optimal ratio between balsamic vinegar and olive oil

For balsamic vinegar, use 2-3X the olive oil portion.

Last but not least is to cut the red onion as thin as possible in rings

I use a Mandoline slicer to help me get the consistent extremely thin onion ring slices.

Tomato Basil Salad {Garden Delight}

Yield: 2 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 12 minutes

Tomato Basil Salad featuring a splash of balsamic vinegar and virgin olive oil, along with thin sliced red onions, is so naturally tasty and easy to make.

Ingredients

1 lb. tomatoes, ripe from the vine preferred
1/2 of a small red onion
1 bunch fresh basil
2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp. olive oil, virgin olive oil is preferred

Instructions

Gather ingredients.
Wash and rinse tomatoes and cut into bite size chunks and add to a salad bowl.
Wash and rinse the basil, discard any stems that are not tender. Cut into small pieces.
To prepare red onion, trim both ends off and peel the outer layer off. Then use a Mandoline slicer, the thinnest mode, to slide the red onion into thin ring slices.
Pour balsamic vinegar and olive oil into the mixing bowl. Use a pair of wooden spatulas to toss and mix well.
All done! Enjoy a naturally delicious, refreshing and super healthy garden salad.