When summer tomatoes are at their peak, the best way to enjoy them is to keep things simple, like with this cherry tomato and red onion salad. Tossed with fresh basil, red wine vinegar, and olive oil, it’s proof that just a few ingredients can come together to create something truly special. It’s also one of those dishes you’ll find yourself making on repeat whenever you have ripe tomatoes on hand.

Inspired by Mediterranean flavors, this salad is bursting with juicy tomato goodness. The sweet tomatoes and sharp red onion are balanced by a bright, tangy dressing and the summery freshness of basil.

If you enjoy tomatoes and basil and salads without lettuce, you might also like my grilled corn and tomato salad and sourdough panzanella tomato salad, both of which celebrate fresh seasonal produce.

Ingredient info: gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, vegan

Bowl of tomato and red onion salad next to a purple and blue napkin.

💌 Save For Later!

I'll email you a link so you can come back to this later.

I'll also send you other recipes I know you'll love. Unsubscribe at any time.

What's better than ripe tomatoes and fresh basil? Turning them into this salad! So quick and easy to make, and oh-so-delicious. This is definitely going to become a staple in my house.

- David

Ingredients

Cherry or grape tomatoes
Red onion (or substitute white onion)
Olive oil
Red wine vinegar
Salt and pepper
Fresh basil

Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete ingredients, measurements, and instructions.

Instructions

Onion slices soaking in a bowl of ice water.

Assembling this tomato and onion salad is very easy. Simply combine all of the ingredients in a bowl, toss well to combine, and enjoy. It tastes best at room temperature.

Since raw onions are sometimes too strong for my taste, I like to soak the slices in a bowl of ice water for a few minutes to tame them. However, if you like your onions to have a little kick, you can skip this step.

Serving suggestions

Dinner plate with chickpea rice pilaf, yogurt sauce, tomato and onion salad, and roasted mushrooms.

In the above photo, tomato and red onion salad is served with roasted mushrooms, chickpea rice, and vegan garlic yogurt sauce.

As you can imagine, this salad pairs well with a variety of dishes from rice to pasta to beans. And it's wonderful with some warm crusty bread.

Made this recipe? Have a question? Please leave a comment below. 💙 And for even more recipes, join my email list for community, inspiration & to chat directly with me!

Love and Veggies,

Amy

Amy sitting on a couch with her laptop computer.

📋 Recipe