Tomato salads are the perfect way to showcase ripe summer tomatoes. Get creative: fresh herbs, cheeses, and vegetables are all you need for a basic tomato salad, but for texture and substance, add pine nuts, olives, avocado, peaches or prosciutto. The combinations are endless and the effort is minimal. And the flavor? Let’s just say you’ll feel a little disappointed when fall arrives.

BEGIN

Tomato, Avocado, Corn & Black Bean Salad

With its mix of festive colors and textures, this tasty Tex-Mex tomato salad is perfect for a taco party, or any casual summer party.

view recipe

Tomato Salad with Feta, Olives & Mint

This Mediterranean-inspired  beauty, with the right balance of acidity, salt, and sweetness, includes ample colorful bite-size cherry tomatoes atop large, bright red slices.

view recipe

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Parmesan Crisps

Here's an impressive and easy way to show off many colors and shapes of heirloom tomatoes: simply stack them with these thin, crunchy one-ingredient Parmesan crisps.

view recipe

Tomato & Green Bean Salad with Crisp Prosciutto

Tomatoes and fresh green beans make for a happy marriage in this salad, and the crispy baked prosciutto adds a bit of saltiness and crunch.

view recipe

Grilled Corn & Tomato Salad with Basil Oil

When it comes to tomatoes, the simpler, the better. Here, big, juicy beefsteaks are the perfect vehicle for smoky grilled corn and a fragrant basil oil.

view recipe

Tomatoes and Burrata with Tapenade

Burrata (a fresh Italian cheese similar to mozzarella but with a creamy center) is a luscious addition to this riff on a Caprese salad.

view recipe

Grilled Bread Salad With Basil and Cherry Tomatoes

A trip to the grill gives the makings of a classic Italian bread salad—a good crusty loaf of bread, ripe summer tomatoes, and basil—a little smokiness and crisp texture. Because this salad can sit out at room temperature for an hour or two, it’s  perfect for a picnic or barbecue.

view recipe

Tomato, Chive & Pine Nut Salad with Gorgonzola Toasts

This salad is gorgeous when you make it with the four colors of tomato, but it’s still excellent if you only use one or two colors.

view recipe

Heirloom Tomato, Summer Peach, and Fresh Herb Gazpacho Salad

Peaches and tomatoes together? Sure; they’re in season together, and they taste great together because the sweetness of the peach balances the acidity of the tomato.

view recipe

Tomato & Drunken Goat Cheese Salad

This Mexican-inspired starter manages to be simple and elegant at the same time. You may have to seek out the drunken goat cheese (the other ingredients are fresh from the garden or pantry staples) but it’s worth it.

view recipe