I love sweet, ripe tomatoes and live for simple dishes that I can whip up in 10 minutes. Behold, another one of my “cleaning-out-the-fridge, we’re-moving-in-two-days” recipes.
New Jersey is famous for its fresh produce, hence our nickname “The Garden State.” Most famous are fresh corn and tomatoes. It’s not uncommon to drive past several produce stands in Jersey suburbia… in an open air store, you’ll see fresh veggies and fruits piled high in wooden crates. There’s a sweetness in the air that can’t be matched.
As you would imagine, a lot of people tend to their own gardens in New Jersey. My parents are one of them. Although they skip on the corn, they grow tomatoes, peppers, peas, radishes, lettuce… all to the delight of friendly deer who love to stop by for a late night snack… and all to the horror of my parents who are now deer repellent experts (I can’t help but crack up when I hear the stories of “the deer ate all my peas!”).
Top with mozzarella for a caprese! Enjoy this salad – just in time for BBQs and warm summer picnics!
Simplest Tomato Salad
Ingredients
- 4 or 5 tomatoes, sliced
- 6 leaves of fresh basil, julienne
- Salt and pepper
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Balsamic vinegar
Directions
- Arrange the sliced tomatoes on a plate.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper (to your liking), drizzle with oil and vinegar, then top with fresh basil.