Nothing tastes like summer as much as a vine-ripened tomato. Eat one straight out of the garden, as you would an apple. Sprinkle it with a little salt if you wish. (If you’re afraid of salt, you might want to visit my web site for the latest on why salt is not the blood-pressure-raising culprit we once believed it to be. See the link below.)
Then take your tomatoes into the kitchen and toss them into these delicious, easy salad recipes. Nothing could be simpler, better for you, more colorful, more tasty! What more can you ask for?
Tomatoes with Cucumber and Onion
4 tomatoes, sliced
2 cucumbers, sliced
1 red onion, diced
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup light Italian dressing
Freshly ground black pepper
Combine all ingredients and serve with ground pepper to taste.
4 servings
Tomato-Mint Salad
1/4 cup tarragon vinegar
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon sugar (optional)
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup chopped mint
6 large vine-ripened tomatoes, sliced
3 cucumbers, sliced
Romaine lettuce
Mint leaves for garnish
Combine the vinegar, juice, sugar, salt, pepper and mint; mix into the tomatoes and cucumbers and marinate at least 1 hour. Line a bowl with romaine leaves, place the tomatoes and cucumbers in the middle and garnish with additional mint leaves.
4 servings
Tomatoes with Pepper Salsa
1 green pepper, chopped fine
6 green onions, minced (white part)
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves (optional)
1 jalapeno pepper, minced, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon wine vinegar
4 ripe tomatoes
Romaine lettuce leaves
2 cups bean sprouts
Combine all ingredients except the tomatoes, lettuce and sprouts; marinate for 4 hours or overnight. Slice the tomatoes and arrange on a bed of lettuce and sprouts; top with the salsa.
4 servings
Tomatoes and Basil
Sliced vine-ripened tomatoes
Chopped fresh basil leaves
Rice wine vinegar
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Combine the ingredients in any quantity you wish.
