Description
A fresh Italian-style marinated tomatoes salad with ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, basil, toasted crusty bread, and a garlicky tomato vinaigrette.
Ingredients
4-5 cups day-old crusty bread, cut into 1-inch chunks
3 ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges or cubes
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
2 cucumbers, seeded and sliced
1 cup fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar or red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Salt the chopped tomatoes and let them drain in a colander for 15 minutes to 1 hour, collecting the juices underneath.
2. Slice the red onion and cucumbers, removing cucumber seeds if preferred.
3. Toast the bread chunks in olive oil until crisp and lightly golden using a skillet, oven, or air fryer.
4. Whisk together the reserved tomato juice, vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
5. Combine tomatoes, onion, cucumber, toasted bread, and basil in a large bowl.
6. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until evenly coated.
7. Let the salad sit for 5 minutes to 1 hour before serving so the flavors absorb properly.
Notes
Use dense crusty bread like sourdough, ciabatta, or artisan bread since soft bread becomes soggy quickly.
Sweating the tomatoes with salt helps reduce excess liquid and keeps the bread from turning mushy.
Cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, or Italian tomatoes all work well if ripe and firm.
Removing cucumber seeds helps prevent extra moisture in the salad.
White wine vinegar and red wine vinegar both work well.
For best texture, serve within a couple of hours after mixing.
If storing for later, keep toasted bread separate and add just before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Toasted and Tossed
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 268
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 403 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 23 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg