Eat your vegetables!
.Eat a more colorful array of foods!
Eat more local, more fresh, and more in season!
Not a problem with this summer salad!
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Growing up, my mother always made very simple, delicious salads using tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and onions. There’s no secret, magic recipe to this. Just cut up what you’ve got in your garden or that’s available in the fresh markets or at your local farmers’ market, mix them up with a bit of red wine or balsamic vinegar, some olive oil, garlic and basil . . . and there you have it!
It’s the garlic and the fresh basil that takes the flavor of this vegetable salad over the top of deliciousness!
I have heirloom tomatoes falling off the vine in perfect ripeness right now, along with all of the other tomato varieties doing the same thing! The peppers are in perfect harmony of readiness in picking too! Looks like it’s time for me to start freezing and canning sauces!
In the meantime, it’s a scorching hot weekend . . . even our cats who love to bask in the heat of the sun are refusing to go outside.
This means it’s time for some no-cook/no-bake items whenever possible.
This salad is perfect for that!
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Print
PinIngredients
- 3 heirloom and/or regular tomatoes (in a variety of colors if possible), cored and cut into 1/2″ chunks
- 1 large green pepper, cored, seeds cleaned out, and cut into 1/2″ pieces
- 1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeds removed, and cut into 1/2″ pieces
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions
- 10 large basil leaves, chopped
- 1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
- 1 Tbsp. red wine or balsamic vinegar
- 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper, generously used to taste.
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients in a medium bowl.
- Add more of any ingredient that you prefer.
- Salt and pepper to taste (I use a good bit of these).
- Allow the salad to set for about 15 minutes for all of the juices to blend well together.
Now how easy is that?
.Plus you get your veggies in all of their summer color and vine-ripe freshness!
Cool stuff on a hot summer day!
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Happy 4th of July weekend!
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Garden Fresh Heirloom Tomato, Pepper, and Cucumber Salad
Pegasuslegend says
July 2, 2011 at 4:07 PMI just love the healthy foods you make this is one I will love~
Chels says
July 2, 2011 at 4:23 PMIt looks amazing, so fresh and full of flavor!
Patti says
July 2, 2011 at 7:55 PMRoz..I cannot wait for my first tomato sandwich!! Those tomatoes look so juicy and delish!
bellini says
July 2, 2011 at 8:05 PMAaah, my beloved heirlooms. I am waiting for the day when I find them at our local market:D
redkathy says
July 2, 2011 at 8:56 PMRoz, Can you ship some of those luscious tomatoes to me down here. I don’t have the time nor the luck for tomatoes. Haven’t had a home grown in forever!
Happy Independence Day!
**Hugs**
peachkins says
July 2, 2011 at 9:25 PMlove the color of your salad!
Lizzy says
July 2, 2011 at 9:59 PMThe PERFECT summer salad!!! I could eat this every night 🙂
Anne says
July 2, 2011 at 11:12 PMOh Roz. Those heirloom tomatoes looks absolutely fantastic! I’ve got some tomato seedlings just waiting to be potted out. Still a bit cooler over here in Australia but warm enough I guess where I live to start planting. Strawberry season is upon us so that’s a sure sign warmer weather is just around the corner. Short winters here for us which is good.
Anne @ Domesblissity
Kim says
July 3, 2011 at 12:31 AMEverything just looks so ripe and fresh! So nice that you have your tomatoes already. Mine are about another week or two. (Of course I’m working on eating some green ones right now). LOL!
A beautiful salad, Roz.
Chris's Gourmet Fashion says
July 3, 2011 at 1:02 AMLove your salad. I agree that fresh basil an tomatoes were made for each other 🙂 Your heirloom tomatoes look inredible … I don’t think we will even start to smell ours till Autgust this year.
LindyLouMac in Italy says
July 3, 2011 at 7:34 AMAttractive, delicious and healthy, the perfect combination.
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
July 3, 2011 at 9:40 AMI just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your blog. I am envious of your heirloom tomatoes being ripe. Here in Maine, I have a few tiny green tomatoes. I am hoping the plants survive…we have had so many cool, rainy days and the plants are looking puny.
Big Dude says
July 3, 2011 at 10:18 AMI’m with you Roz – cut up what’s in the garden and dress it for a delicious salad. We got our first maters yesterday and they got scarfed up got breakfast this AM.
Rebecca from Chow and Chatter says
July 3, 2011 at 4:22 PMawesome salad I want some of your tomatoes wow
oh and on the crab cakes
Roz I think any fish would work as long as it held together well maybe a white fish with a more delicate flavor ? flakey cod ?
Rebecca
Ilke says
July 3, 2011 at 5:54 PMThat is the beauty of summer! I agree, too hot to go out so we came to Asheville this weekend. It was burning here as well!
Beth says
July 3, 2011 at 7:51 PMRoz, What a pretty, healthy, delicious salad! I can’t wait until we have tomatoes from the garden…it’ll be awhile…
I made your fried squash blossoms yesterday. Mmmmmm, Mmmmmmm good! Thanks for sharing, Roz. Have a good holiday.
Blessings, Beth
Carol @ There's Always Thyme to Cook says
July 3, 2011 at 8:38 PMBeautiful salad, so fresh and healthy! Love everything that’s in there!
Deb in Hawaii says
July 3, 2011 at 8:41 PMDelicious–refreshing and perfect for your hot weather. Thanks for sending it to Souper Sundays. 😉
Maureen says
July 4, 2011 at 3:16 AMHow beautiful and fresh this looks!! Wonderful salad.
LindyLouMac in Italy says
July 4, 2011 at 12:56 PMHi Roz, as you have no reply turned on I decided to call by here again to thankyou so much for the lovely comments you left on News From Italy over the weekend. Each and every one is really appreciated, as I know how busy you are. I hope you have enjoyed your July 4th celebrations. Take Care x
Magic of Spice says
July 5, 2011 at 2:37 PMSuch a gorgeous and flavorful salad…very summer 🙂
MM says
July 6, 2011 at 10:22 PMIf this isn’t summer on a plate, I don’t know what is! Beautiful.
April @ The 21st Century Housewife says
July 19, 2011 at 9:04 AMWhat a beautiful, fresh and colourful salad, Roz! I would really love to have that for my lunch! Thank you for sharing it with Let’s Do Brunch.
Bianca @ Upright Vacuum Cleaner says
July 26, 2011 at 1:12 AMI love simple salads like this. I just bookmarked it!
Suzanne @ Stainlesssteelfrypan says
July 26, 2011 at 1:13 AMBeautiful salad. I love the simplicity of dishes like this – perfect for the warmer weather.