This tomato and onion salad is our favorite side of summer that uses only a handful of ingredients for easy meal prep. We’ve been making this recipe for years, it’s actually a side dish that we grew up eating at family gatherings and weeknight meals. With fresh parsley, red onion, and a hint of garlic, there’s so much to love about the vibrant flavors.
For several summers we would grow tomatoes in the backyard, and this salad with juicy tomatoes and red onion was one of our go-to recipes. We love to serve it for a light lunch or to accompany a protein for a quick dinner. We still make it almost once a week when the weather is warm! It’s best when served with an easy main course like cilantro lime chicken or stovetop steak.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Easy 15-minute side dish recipe. This tomato and onion salad is so simple to prepare that anyone can make it easily. With just 6 ingredients, it’s wonderfully flavorful and will be a favorite recipe among family and friends.
- Pairs well with so many dishes. Whether it’s a backyard barbecue, picnic, or weeknight dinner, this salad goes with chicken, fish, steak, as well as other vegetables to make for a well-rounded meal.
- Easy cleanup and ideal to make in advance. This is just the kind of side we love, we can prep it in advance and it only uses one bowl!
Tips for Busy Cooks
When it comes to selecting tomatoes for this recipe, we love using Roma, beefsteak, heirloom, or even cherry. Whatever are the ripest for the season or at the store is what’s best for this recipe. They will be both sweeter and juicier to compliment the tangy dressing and red onion for a refreshing bite!
Key Ingredient Notes
- Red onion – We love using red onion for its bright acidity as well as color in this tomato salad. Plus, when it’s marinated in the red wine vinaigrette it softens and becomes so delicious.
- Ripe tomatoes – No matter when you make this tomato onion salad, buying the ripest tomatoes is the most important step for the best flavor.
- Extra virgin olive oil – Buy a high quality olive oil here, the flavor will truly shine in this salad, we promise it’s worth it.
- Red wine vinegar – This is the tang in a homemade salad dressing. Red wine vinegar has a rich flavor and compliments the naturally sweet tomatoes very well. White wine vinegar is another great option too if you already have it at home.
- Fresh parsley – Adds a fresh herb flavor in every bite. Using basil, chives, or even tarragon would all work well too.
- Garlic cloves – We love using whole garlic cloves here, but if you want an easy store-bought shortcut then garlic paste is the perfect swap too. You can find this in the produce section.
- Coarse kosher salt and black pepper – Any beautifully ripe tomato needs to be seasoned before eating, it brings out their natural sweet and juicy flavor.
How to make tomato and onion salad
This salad is a breeze to make!
Step 1: Cut the tomatoes into large bite-sized pieces.
Step 2: Thinly slice the onion.
Step 3: In a large bowl, combine onions and tomatoes. Add olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine.
Step 4: Marinate for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
Expert Tips:
- Make sure you marinate for at least 10 to 15 minutes before serving. This helps the flavors to blend together making for a more delicious and flavorful bite. The vinegar in the dressing as well as the salt also helps the onion and tomatoes to soften for the best texture.
- Swap out the parsley for other herbs. This is where you can be creative, we love to use any herbs that are growing in our garden or that look great at the store. Basil, dill, even tarragon are all nice choices.
- When it comes to choosing the tomatoes for this salad, make sure they are very ripe. This either makes or breaks the salad, it’s extremely important. Look for tomatoes that are rich in color on the outside and also smell fresh. Both are great indicators of ripeness.
- Salt the salad well. We are using kosher salt here, it evenly seasons with the correct amount of salt compared to regular table salt. Seasoning a tomato salad actually brings out the natural flavors and almost “tenderizes” the tomatoes to be softer to the bite.
What to serve with red onion and tomato salad
When it comes to pairing red onion and tomato salad with a main course, the options are endless! Here are some of our favorites:
Make Ahead and Storing Tips
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. We like to let it sit out for 10 to 15 minutes prior to serving to take the chill off. We don’t recommend freezing this salad, it’ll change the texture of the vegetables.
If you want to make this tomato side dish in advance, it’s ideal for that. Mix everything together and allow it to marinate for up to 2 hours before a party or weeknight dinner.
FAQs
We love adding fresh herbs, a tender lettuce like arugula, or mozzarella cheese. You can also add dried herbs like oregano or Italian seasoning as well.
Yes, it’s a great salad full of healthy vitamins and fresh ingredients.
It goes well with lots of proteins like chicken, steak, salmon, or shrimp.
More easy side dish recipes
Tomato and Onion Salad
Ingredients
- 1 medium red onion
- 4 ripe tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- Handful fresh parsley
- 3 garlic cloves minced, or 3 teaspoons garlic paste
- ½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
- Thinly slice the onion.
- Cut the tomatoes into large bite-sized pieces.
- In a large bowl combine onions and tomatoes.
- Add olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine.
- Marinate for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
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Notes
– Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. We like to let it sit out for 10 to 15 minutes prior to serving to take the chill off.
– We don’t recommend freezing this salad, it will change the texture of the vegetables.
– If you want to make this tomato side dish in advance, it’s ideal for that. You can mix everything together and allow it to marinate for up to 2 hours ahead of a party or weeknight dinner.
Nutrition
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full nutrition disclosure.
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