• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Strength and Sunshine
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Celiac Disease & Food Allergies
  • Coaching
  • Media & Press
  • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Celiac Disease & Food Allergies
  • Coaching
  • Media & Press
  • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
×
Home » Side Dish » Italian Tomato Salad Recipe

Italian Tomato Salad Recipe

Published: Jun 18, 2023 by Rebecca Pytell · This post may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe
italian tomato salad with image text
collage image of tomato salad

Tomato salad is an easy, quick, and healthy side dish for an occasion! This Italian tomato salad recipe is packed with ripe juicy tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, and fresh fragrant basil! Tossed and marinated with a simple vinaigrette, this naturally gluten-free, vegan, allergy-free, and low-carb dish is a must-have for summer BBQs, cookouts, and potlucks!

overhead view of italian tomato salad in white bowl

Fresh, juicy, cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, tons of herby aromatic basil. Tossed and marinated in a super simple olive oil and red vinegar dressing. It's the most refreshing and simple summer side dish that will pair perfectly with any entree! The tomatoes are the star of the show but you can easily customize it with more flavors and ingredients. But just like cold Italian pasta salad, why mess with the classics when simplicity is key?

left side of bowl of italian tomato salad

What Is Italian Tomato Salad?

Not to be confused with Caprese, this simple, fresh tomato salad is just sweet cherry tomatoes, red onion, fresh basil, and a simple vinaigrette. Let it all marinate together in the fridge for a delicious, healthy, Italian-inspired salad. There's no cheese (aka mozzarella) or balsamic like there is with Caprese. There is, however, ripe juicy tomato and basil! The salad is dressed with a homemade Italian dressing just like a pasta salad.

Why You'll Love This Tomato Salad Recipe

Summer in a bowl, this veggie (or...fruit) salad is straight-up healthy refreshment! It's a perfect way to brighten up your grilling, BBQ, and cookout meals. Light and easy, it goes well with weeknight dinners and lunches too!

  • Gluten-Free
  • Vegan & Vegetarian
  • Allergy-free (Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Peanut-Free, Wheat-Free, Sesame-Free, Nightshade-Free, Fish-Free, Shellfish-Free, Coconut-Free, Corn-Free)
  • Keto, Low-Carb
  • Sugar-Free & Paleo
  • Quick, Easy, Simple Ingredients
  • Kid-Friendly
  • Make-Ahead & Meal Prep Staple
  • Perfect Side for Lunch, Dinner, or an Appetizer

Ingredients In Tomato Salad

tomato salad ingredients

  • Fresh Tomatoes: My favorites are sweet, juicy, cherry tomatoes. They're the perfect size, low-acidity, and have no mealiness. You can use plain red or get crazy with multi-colored varieties.
  • Red Onion: The key to optimal onion flavor here is thinly sliced red onion. No big chunks, the thinner the better so the onion isn't too overpowering and will marinate well in the Italian dressing! You can swap the red onion with thinly sliced shallots instead!
  • Fresh Basil: Fragrant, aromatic, palate cleansing. There's nothing better than fresh basil! If you absolutely hate basil, you can use fresh Italian parsley. Even try a combo of the two!
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Make sure you use extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). This type is cold-pressed and unrefined so it has a stronger, robust flavor, and is made for raw applications like salads.
  • Red Wine Vinegar: It adds the perfect acidity to the dressing and slight pickling to the onions when left to marinade. Try to use red wine, but white whine vinegar will work as well as balsamic, however, play around with the amount since balsamic has a strong flavor.
  • Dried Oregano + Salt + Pepper: You can keep it simple with just salt and pepper, to taste, or add some dried oregano like I did! The oregano makes this salad taste, kind of like a pizza.

What Is The Best Salad Tomato?

Cherry tomatoes are the best tomato for salads and snacking! Bite-sized (like a cherry), thin-skinned, and juicy with a sweet flavor. You'll find them in red, orange, green, and even Sungold yellow. Grape tomatoes are similar in small size and flavor, however, they have less water content and can yield a slightly mealier texture, and have thicker skin. Other options that aren't of the small variety would be beefsteak, cocktail, vine-ripe, Campari, and heirloom tomatoes. You'll need to chop these larger tomatoes finer if you're going for the easy-to-eat cold salad.

How To Make Cherry Tomato Salad

steps 1 and 2 for making italian cherry tomato salad

  1. Halve the tomatoes, thinly slice the red onion, and lightly chop the fresh basil leaves.
  2. Add the veggies to a large bowl.

steps 3 and 4 making the Italian dressing marinade for tomato salad

  1. Add the olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and oregano to a small bowl.
  2. Whisk the Italian dressing together until combined.

steps 5 and 6 mixing together cherry tomato salad with Italian dressing

  1. Pour the Italian dressing over the bowl of chopped and sliced veggies.
  2. Mix and toss everything together until the veggies are coated in the vinaigrette. Allow the salad to marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before serving for optimal flavor.

How To Cut Cherry Tomatoes For Salad

You'll see tons of hacks to speed up the process, but if you want the cleanest cut, grab a very sharp knife, and line 2-3 cherry tomatoes up with the stem dot facing up. Using the pressure of the knife to keep the tomatoes in place, slice straight down until the tomatoes are in halves. By slicing right through the center middle, the cut goes right through the inner seam and holds the juices, gel, and seeds perfectly in place, even when tossed around in the making of the salad!

close up of italian cherry tomato salad

How To Store Fresh Tomato Salad

Regardless of if you're serving the tomato salad right away, allow it to marinate at room temperature for 1-2 hours before covering the bowl and storing it in the fridge. Store the marinated tomato salad in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make sure you bring the salad to room temperature before serving and toss everything together to redistribute the Italian dressing and coat all the tomatoes to prevent them from being dried out.

Can You Make It Ahead Of Time?

You can make the salad in advance, but remember, tomatoes degrade quickly once cut. It's fine to keep tomatoes in the fridge once they are at their peak ripeness, which these are, but once they're cut, they start to lose moisture. I would make this no more than 2 days in advance of serving it for the first time to guests.

How To Serve Italian Tomato Salad

This Italian cherry tomato salad is the perfect summer side dish for cookouts, BBQs, and potlucks. Think of serving it alongside grilled entrees like these grilled chicken burgers, perfectly seasoned grilled chicken breast, or veggie entrees like grilled cabbage steaks or eggplant steaks! Of course, this side salad also goes well with everyday weeknight entrees like salmon, roast chicken, lentil loaf, and baked cheesy pasta!

close up of right side of cherry tomato salad in bowl

Recipe Tips & Tricks

  • Cherry tomatoes are at their peak ripeness during the summer months, however, you can find ripe tomatoes year-round. Make sure they're firm and fragrant, this way you know they're at their optimal sweetness!
  • Make sure to allow the salad to marinate! The salt acts via osmosis on the tomatoes, extracting the natural sweetness and juices. The acid from the vinegar softens and mutes the astringent flavor of the red onions, giving them a slight pickle. It's crucial that you wait a minimum of 30 minutes before serving the salad!
  • Don't leave your tomatoes whole! You want to expose the insides to the marinade. Plus, too large of a pop in the mouth is a bit too much experiment for this side salad!
  • If you have really large basil leaves, you can chiffonade the basil. Roll the leaves into a tight cylinder and slice. I just grabbed a bunch and chopped normally.
  • If you want more dressing to toss the salad in, you can add an extra tablespoon of each, olive oil, and vinegar. I played around with the amounts and it's really up to you.

More Delicious Side Salads:

  • Classic Italian Pasta Salad
  • Mexican Street Corn Salad
  • Old-Fashioned Cucumber Salad
  • French Carrot Salad
  • Classic Broccoli Salad
  • Shirazi Salad

overhead zoomed out view of Italian tomato salad ready to serve

Print

Italian Tomato Salad Recipe

overhead view of italian tomato salad in white bowl
Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 5 reviews

Tomato salad is an easy, quick, and healthy side dish for an occasion! This Italian tomato salad recipe is packed with ripe juicy tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, and fresh fragrant basil! Tossed and marinated with a simple vinaigrette, this naturally gluten-free, vegan, allergy-free, and low-carb dish is a must-have for summer BBQs, cookouts, and potlucks!

  • Author: Rebecca Pytell
  • Prep Time: 5 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 Minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 4 Servings 1x
  • Category: Side, Appetizer
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 Pints (3 Cups) Cherry Tomatoes
  • ½ Cup Thinly Sliced Red Onion
  • ¼ Cup Freshly Chopped Basil
  • 2-3 TB Extra Virgin Olive Oil 
  • 1-2 TB Red Wine Vinegar
  • 1 Tsp Dried Oregano (to taste)
  • Salt + Pepper (to taste)

Instructions

  1. Halve the cherry tomatoes, thinly slice the red onion, and chop the fresh basil before adding them to a large mixing bowl.
  2. Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, dried oregano, salt, and pepper.
  3. Pour the dressing over the bowl of tomatoes and toss everything together to fully coat.
  4. Allow the tomato salad to marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes at room temperature before serving.

Notes

  • Storage: Store leftover salad, covered, in the fridge for up to 4 days for best quality. Bring to room temperature and toss before serving.
  • Make-ahead: You can make the tomato salad ahead of time, no more than 2 days in advance of the first serving. The longer you allow it to marinate before serving the better, ideally 2 hours.
  • Swap the basil for parsley if you prefer, or do a mix. Red onions can be swapped for shallots, and cherry tomatoes can be swapped with grape, cocktail, or chopped beefsteak.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Serving

Keywords: tomato salad, cherry tomato salad, Italian tomato salad

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @rebeccagf666 on Instagram and hashtag it #strengthandsunshine

half bowl of cherry tomato salad

It's so simple and technically a fruit salad...with onions...take that as you will. Regardless, it's the most simple, delicious Italian cherry tomato salad recipe you'll ever make, or eat!

So tell me:

+ What's your favorite variety of tomatoes? If you want to get crazy, try some green tomatoes!

———————————————-

Stay connected:
Facebook: Strength and Sunshine
Twitter: @RebeccaGF666
Instagram: rebeccagf666
Pinterest: RebeccaGF666
Bloglovin’: Strength and Sunshine

Related

« Vegan Carrot Raisin Salad
Virgin Mojito »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anna Price

    June 23, 2023 at 10:02 am

    This is a perfect summer salad. I can't wait for my cherry tomatoes to get ripe so I can make this. Also - your photography is amazing.

    Reply
    • Rebecca Pytell

      June 23, 2023 at 5:10 pm

      Hope you enjoy!

      Reply
  2. Tracy McHugh

    June 21, 2023 at 10:50 am

    I never got into tomatoes but this does look tasty!

    Reply
    • Rebecca Pytell

      June 21, 2023 at 5:44 pm

      Why comment?

      Reply
  3. Julie

    June 21, 2023 at 6:17 am

    I love tomato so this is right up my street! Yum 🙂

    Reply
    • Rebecca Pytell

      June 21, 2023 at 8:20 am

      Enjoy!

      Reply
  4. Jodi Graham

    June 19, 2023 at 6:22 pm

    This is perfect timing - I've been looking for fresh cooling salad recipes for this summer! Thank you

    Reply
    • Rebecca Pytell

      June 20, 2023 at 7:39 am

      Great for every cookout!

      Reply
  5. tianna

    June 19, 2023 at 1:50 pm

    this salad sounds so delicious seems perfect for a picnic or holiday weekend.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Rebecca Pytell

      June 19, 2023 at 2:00 pm

      Exactly!

      Reply
  6. Laurie

    June 19, 2023 at 1:34 pm

    Got lots of tomatoes growing so hope to make your salad this summer! My MIL's recipes is very similiar but doesn't have the fresh basil, which is a MUST. Thanks!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Rebecca Pytell

      June 19, 2023 at 2:00 pm

      Enjoy it all summer long!

      Reply
  7. Tom

    June 19, 2023 at 10:57 am

    Easy to make and delicious! Reminds me of the great salads my mother would make from our garden when I was a kid.

    Reply
    • Rebecca Pytell

      June 19, 2023 at 1:59 pm

      Hope you recreate it then!

      Reply
  8. Belle

    June 19, 2023 at 10:35 am

    One of my favourite simple salads to make! Thanks for sharing, will definitely be making this to pair with my meal tonight

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Rebecca Pytell

      June 19, 2023 at 10:53 am

      Right? It goes wonderfully with so many meals!

      Reply
  9. Sim

    June 19, 2023 at 8:35 am

    I absolutely adore cherry tomatoes and that bowl of tomato salad looks so refreshing right now! I could quite happily gobble it all up!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Rebecca Pytell

      June 19, 2023 at 9:08 am

      They are great!

      Reply
  10. Robin

    June 19, 2023 at 8:35 am

    I've never been a fan of tomatoes, it's more of a texture thing than it is a flavor thing. However, I made something very similar to this and absolutely fell in love.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Rebecca Pytell

      June 19, 2023 at 9:06 am

      Great to know.

      Reply
  11. Kelly

    June 19, 2023 at 7:14 am

    My kind of recipe, thx for sharing

    Reply
    • Rebecca Pytell

      June 19, 2023 at 9:06 am

      Okay, enjoy.

      Reply
  12. Donna Reidland

    June 18, 2023 at 8:39 pm

    This looks and sounds delicious!

    Reply
    • Rebecca Pytell

      June 19, 2023 at 9:05 am

      Enjoy!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hey there, welcome to Strength and Sunshine! I’m Rebecca and I'm so glad you're here! This is your go-to destination for delicious, fun, and (mostly) healthy gluten-free and allergy-free recipes, tips & tricks, advice, as well as celiac and food allergy coaching services! More about me



Search

Never Miss A Post

Categories

Recent Posts

  • Air Fryer Zucchini Chips (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
  • Gluten-Free Blueberry Crumb Bars
  • Blueberry Chia Jam
  • Grilled Portobello Mushroom Steaks
  • Strawberry Banana Bread (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Trending Posts

  • Slow Cooker Applesauce | Easy, Simple, No Added Sugar
  • Cold Italian Pasta Salad (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Allergy-Free)
  • Slow Cooker Apple Butter (No Peeling Required!)
  • Gluten-Free Pumpkin Scones (Vegan, Allergy-Free) Healthy Starbucks Copycat
  • Homemade Apple Cider (No Added Sugar)
  • Healthy Lemonade Recipe (Sugar-Free, Homemade, 3-Ingredients)

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About Rebecca
  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign up for our weekly newsletter!

Contact

  • Contact
  • Services
  • Media & Press

Copyright © 2022 Strength and Sunshine LLC

Related

Break through that midweek slump with a cozy plate Break through that midweek slump with a cozy plate of apple cinnamon French toast 😍🍎🍞

Super easy gluten-free apple cinnamon french toast with a fresh cinnamon apple compote so you won’t need any maple syrup! Vegan and allergy-free 😘

Find the full recipe on Strength and Sunshine 🥳
https://strengthandsunshine.com/gluten-free-apple-cinnamon-french-toast-vegan/

#apple #applecinnamon #frenchtoast #veganbreakfast #glutenfreebreakfast #allergyfree #glutenfree #vegan #dairyfree #egg-free
Crispy, crunchy, dippable veggies 🤤🥒 * Air F Crispy, crunchy, dippable veggies 🤤🥒
*
Air Fryer Zucchini Chips (Gluten-Free, Vegan) 🤤🥒🍅
*
These Crispy Chips Of Zucchini are 👇
Gluten-Free ❤️
Allergy-Free 🧡
Vegan 💛
Low-Carb (Keto Options) 💚
Oil-Free & Sugar-Free 💙
Easy, Quick, Healthy Simple Ingredients 💜
Perfect Appetizer, Snack, or Side Dish 💗
*
Like Italian fried zucchini...just gluten-free, eggless, no dairy, and no deep-frying! Thin slices of fresh zucchini, dipped in a simple Italian seasoned breadcrumb mixture and air-fried to perfection in your @gowiseusa . Dip these yummy veggie chips in marinara sauce, ketchup, spicy tomato sauce, or whatever your heart desires! 😍😋😚
*
CLICK the LINK in my BIO @rebeccagf666 for the FULL RECIPE on the BLOG! 👆👆
https://strengthandsunshine.com/air-fryer-zucchini-chips/
*
#zucchini #zucchinichips #friedzucchihi #oilfree #airfryer #airfryerrecipes #glutenfree #vegan #dairyfree #eggfree #soyfree #nutfree #allergyfree #celiac #foodallergies #feedfeed #airfryerrecipe #appetizerrecipe #healthysidedish #glutenfreelife #plantbasedvegan #kidapproved #italianfood #appetizer #justeatrealfood #glutenfreefood #glutenfreeliving #celiacdisease #foodallergymom
Soft moist pillows of pumpkin goodness studded wit Soft moist pillows of pumpkin goodness studded with dark chocolate chips 🤩🎃🍫

Super easy gluten-free soft pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, vegan and allergy-free 😘🍪

Find the full recipe on Strength and Sunshine 🥳
https://strengthandsunshine.com/pumpkin-chocolate-chip-cookies/

#pumpkin #pumpkincookies #chocolatechipcookies #vegancookies #glutenfreecookies #allergyfree #glutenfree #vegan #dairyfree #eggfree
When you want both the summer and fall vibes at on When you want both the summer and fall vibes at once…😙🍂👙

Super moist, soft, fluffy Pumpkin Zucchini Bread! 🤩🎃🥒🍞
Gluten-free, vegan, allergy-free, full of fruits and veggies! 😁

Find the full recipe on Strength and Sunshine 🥳
https://strengthandsunshine.com/gluten-free-pumpkin-zucchini-bread/

#pumpkin #zucchini #pumpkinbread #zucchinibread #glutenfreebread #veganbread #allergyfree #glutenfree #vegan #dairyfree #eggfree
Say farewell to berry season with these sweet, ten Say farewell to berry season with these sweet, tender, buttery crumb bars! 🫐
*
Gluten-Free Blueberry Crumb Bars (Vegan, Allergy-Free) 😍🤤🫐
*
These Beautifully Blissful Blueberry Bars are:👇
Gluten-Free ❤️
Allergy-Free 🧡
Vegan 💛
Kid-Approved 💚
No Added Sugar 💙
Simple and Easy 💜
Delicious Dessert, Brunch or Breakfast Treat 💖
*
With that homemade blueberry chia jam sandwiched between a tender and buttery gluten-free shortbread style crust and delicious crumb topping, served warm with some vegan vanilla ice cream...not too sweet, just enough to satisfy all your fruity blueberry dreams 🙌🫐🥰😘
*
CLICK the LINK in my BIO @rebeccagf666 for the FULL RECIPE on the BLOG! 👆👆
https://strengthandsunshine.com/gluten-free-blueberry-crumb-bars/
*
#blueberries #blueberry #bakingfromscratch #blueberryrecipes #bakingwithkids #glutenfree #vegan #dairyfree #eggfree #soyfree #nutfree #blueberrypie #allergyfree #celiac #foodallergies #feedfeed #thebakefeed #bakersofinstagram #glutenfreelife #wildblueberries #foodallergymom #kidapproved #veganbaking #vegandessert #glutenfreedessert #glutenfreefood #glutenfreebaking #glutenfreeliving #celiacdisease #dessertbars
Early Autumn Vibes in these Apple Cinnamon Muffins Early Autumn Vibes in these Apple Cinnamon Muffins! ✌️🍎

Fluffy, bakery-style muffins, gluten-free, vegan, and allergy-free! Filled with fresh chopped apples and coated in cinnamon sugar goodness! 😋🥰🍎

Find the full recipe on Strength and Sunshine 🥳👇
https://strengthandsunshine.com/gluten-free-apple-cinnamon-muffins-vegan/

#apple #applecinnamon #applecinnamonmuffins #veganmuffins #glutenfreebreakfast #allergyfree #glutenfree #vegan #dairyfree #eggfree
Are you still holding out on the pumpkin or have y Are you still holding out on the pumpkin or have you given in? 🤔

Let your first taste of pumpkin spice be these copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Scones! Gluten-Free, vegan, and allergy-free, one of Strength and Sunshine’s fan-favorite pumpkin recipes! 🎃🥰😋

Find the full recipe on Strength and Sunshine 👇🥳

https://strengthandsunshine.com/gluten-free-pumpkin-scones-vegan/

#pumpkin #pumpkinscones #pumpkinspice #veganbreakfast #glutenfreebreakfast #allergyfree #glutenfree #vegan #dairyfree #eggfree
The solution for your bounty of blueberries!🫐 * The solution for your bounty of blueberries!🫐
*
Blueberry Chia Jam (Vegan, Gluten-Free) 😍🫐
*
This Berrylicious Blueberry Jam is 👇
Gluten-Free ❤️
Allergy-Free 🧡
Vegan 💛
Sugar-Free, Keto, & Paleo 💚
Kid-Approved 💙
Healthy & Customizable💜
Quick & Easy, 2 Ingredients 💖
Sweet Spread, Filling, Topping, & More! 💝
*
Just like the strawberry chia jam you all loved, this blueberry chia seed jam is just as easy with two ingredients and endless customizations and uses! Blueberry jam is one of my favorites for a PBJ and you’ll need a batch for an upcoming recipe I’ll be sharing in 2 weeks! 🫐🤩
*
CLICK the LINK in my BIO @rebeccagf666 for the FULL RECIPE on the BLOG! 👆👆
https://strengthandsunshine.com/blueberry-chia-jam/
*
#blueberryjam #blueberrychiajam #blueberry #blueberries #wildblueberries #chiajam #chiaseeds #homemadejam #summerfruit #blueberryrecipes #glutenfree #vegan #dairyfree #eggfree #soyfree #nutfree #allergyfree #keto #paleo #celiac #foodallergies #feedfeed #glutenfreelife #foodallergymom #kidapproved #eatrealfood #glutenfreefood #glutenfreeliving #celiacdisease