One Ingredient, Three Ways: The Tomato Salad — Summer's Best Side Dish | PLAIN TABLE

One Ingredient, Three Ways: The Tomato Salad — Summer's Best Side Dish | PLAIN TABLE

Three tomato salads. Zero fuss. One ingredient done three completely different ways.

A salad doesn't have to be an afterthought. When the tomatoes are right — and in August, they are — a tomato salad can be the whole point of the meal. Here are three versions: one classic, one bold, one warm. All built around a single ingredient.

What You'll Need

The right bowl changes how a salad feels. Wide and shallow lets the ingredients breathe. Deep and generous is better for tossing. Choose based on how you're serving.

→ LE TAUCI Pasta Bowl 36oz, Arctic White — Set of 4 — Wide enough for individual servings, deep enough to toss without spilling.
→ 9 Inch Large Salad Bowls, 83oz Porcelain — Set of 2 — For sharing at the table. One bowl, everyone serves themselves.
→ SMIRLY Large Bamboo Cutting Board with Juice Groove — The juice groove matters here. Tomatoes release a lot of liquid when you slice them.

Version 01: The Classic

Simple. Unapologetic. The one you'll make every week until September.

Ingredients:

  • 4 large ripe tomatoes, sliced or cut into wedges
  • ½ red onion, very thinly sliced
  • Large handful of fresh basil, torn
  • 3 tbsp good olive oil
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • Flaky salt, cracked black pepper

Method: Arrange tomatoes on a wide plate or bowl. Scatter red onion and basil over the top. Whisk olive oil and vinegar together, pour over everything. Season generously. Let it sit for 5 minutes before serving — the tomatoes will release their juice and create a natural dressing.

Don't toss it. Let it sit as it is. The layers are part of the presentation.

→ HOMCDALY Olive Oil Dispenser, White — Set of 2 — A proper dispenser gives you control over the pour. No glug, no mess.

Version 02: The Bold

Middle Eastern-inspired. Crunchy, bright, and completely addictive.

Ingredients:

  • 3 ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped
  • 2 pitta breads, torn and toasted until crispy
  • Large handful of fresh mint and flat-leaf parsley
  • ½ cucumber, diced
  • 1 tsp sumac
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • Flaky salt

Method: Toast the torn pitta in a dry pan or oven until deeply golden and crispy — this is the texture that makes the salad. Combine tomatoes, cucumber, and herbs in a bowl. Dress with olive oil and lemon. Add the pitta just before serving so it stays crisp. Dust generously with sumac.

The sumac is non-negotiable. It adds a tartness that makes everything brighter.

Version 03: The Roasted

Warm, rich, and quietly impressive. This is the one you make when a salad needs to feel like a proper course.

Ingredients:

  • 500g cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 ball fresh burrata
  • Fresh basil leaves
  • Good olive oil for finishing
  • Flaky salt, cracked black pepper

Method: Toss tomatoes with olive oil, sugar, salt, and pepper. Roast at 200°C (400°F) for 25–30 minutes until caramelized and slightly collapsed. Let them cool slightly — not cold, just warm. Arrange on a plate, tear the burrata over the top, scatter basil. Finish with a generous drizzle of your best olive oil.

The sugar is the secret. It accelerates the caramelization and deepens the flavor without making it sweet.

→ Marc Oliver Linen Cloth Napkins Mid-Grey — Set of 4 — Grey linen against white ceramic and red tomatoes. The contrast is everything.

Setting the Table

Tomato salads are summer food — serve them the way summer feels. Unhurried. Generous. At the table, not on the counter.

  • Serve at room temperature — never cold. Cold kills the flavor.
  • Use a wide, flat bowl — it shows off the colors and makes serving easier.
  • Pour the dressing at the table — it's a small gesture that makes the meal feel considered.

Shop the Setup

→ LE TAUCI Pasta Bowl 36oz, Arctic White — Set of 4
→ 9 Inch Large Salad Bowls, 83oz Porcelain — Set of 2
→ SMIRLY Large Bamboo Cutting Board with Juice Groove
→ HOMCDALY Olive Oil Dispenser, White — Set of 2
→ Marc Oliver Linen Cloth Napkins Mid-Grey — Set of 4

Next up: One Ingredient, Three Ways — The Tomato Dinner. A summer table for two. Stay tuned.

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