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    Home » Recipes » Vegan Salad Recipes

    Tomato and Red Onion Salad

    By: Amy Katz · Published: Jun 17, 2019 · Last modified: Sep 14, 2021 · This post may contain affiliate links. · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe - Print - Pin
    Special diet: gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, vegan
    Dinner plate and bowl of salad

    Lightly seasoned with olive oil, vinegar, and fresh basil, this Mediterranean tomato and red onion salad is a celebration of summer flavors. Enjoy it as a starter or side with just about everything.

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

    Nothing says summer like fresh sweet tomatoes. Smaller varieties like cherry or grape are perfect for quick salads like this one.

    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Serving suggestions
    • Storing
    • FAQ
    • More cherry tomato recipes
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why you'll love this recipe

    • You can make it in 15 minutes with only 5 ingredients (plus salt and pepper).
    • It's best eaten right away, so there's no need to chill it in advance.
    • It's simple yet incredibly flavorful and a great way to enjoy seasonal produce.

    Ingredients

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

    I like the use herb scissors with 5 blades to quickly and easily cut the fresh herbs. It even works well when they are still wet from rinsing them.

    Herb Cutter Scissors

    • 5 Stainless Steel Blades
    • Safety Cover
    • Cleaning Comb
    Buy from Amazon

    For the complete list of ingredients with measurements plus recipe instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    Instructions

    Onion slices soaking in a bowl of ice water

    Since raw onions are often too strong for my taste, I like to use the method outlined in the recipe for Marinated Artichoke Hearts Salad to cut down on their sharpness. However, if you like your onions to have a little kick, you can skip this step.

    How to tame a strong onion

    Slice the onion crosswise. Separate the slices and place them in a bowl of ice water. Let them soak for at least 15 minutes. Drain and run fresh water over the slices, then proceed with the recipe.

    Assembling this salad is very easy. Simply combine all of the ingredients in a bowl, toss well to combine, and enjoy.

    Serving suggestions

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

    This salad goes well with a variety of dishes from rice to pasta to beans. And it's wonderful with some of my favorite vegan gluten-free sourdough bread from Bread SRSLY in San Francisco, which I like to order online and store in my freezer.

    • Bowl of chickpea rice pilaf garnished with sprig of fresh parsley and lemon wedge.
      Chickpea Rice Pilaf Recipe
    • Bowl of Vegan Yogurt Sauce with a spoon it in next to sprigs of fresh parsley and mint.
      Vegan Yogurt Sauce with Garlic and Herbs
    • Bowl of roasted mushrooms garnished with pine nuts, parsley, and a lemon wedge
      Roasted Baby Bella Mushrooms
    • White bowl containing Lemon Dairy Free Pasta Sauce with aqua basket of lemons and parsley in the background
      Lemon Dairy Free Pasta Sauce

    Storing

    Leftover salad can be covered and refrigerated for about 2 days. I personally prefer this salad fresh and at room temperature. This way the tomatoes have the most flavor.

    FAQ

    How do you sweeten onions for salad?

    If the onion tastes too strong for your liking, let the onion slices soak for at least 15 minutes in a bowl of ice water. Drain and rinse them under cold water, then proceed with the recipe.

    What can I substitute for red onion in a salad?

    White onions, green onions (scallions), and shallots can all be used raw in salads in place of red onion.

    How do I buy cherry tomatoes?

    Choose ones that are bright red and have a firm texture. Avoid ones that have burst.

    More cherry tomato recipes

    Looking for more easy recipes featuring fresh tomatoes? Try some of these vegan Mediterranean diet favorites:

    • Bowl of penne topped with cherry tomato sauce
      No-Cook Cherry Tomato Pasta Sauce
    • Bowl of bean and tomato salad garnished with sprig of fresh basil
      Quick Italian White Bean Salad
    • Serving bowl of pasta topped with fresh tomato basil sauce
      Angel Hair Pomodoro (Vegan Tomato Pasta)
    • Bowl of green bean and tomato salad
      Mediterranean Vegan Green Bean Salad

    And for even more recipes, join the Vegan Mediterranean Diet Recipes Facebook group for support, inspiration, and fun.

    If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars! ★★★★★

    📋 Recipe

    Bowl of tomato and onion salad garnished with a sprig of fresh basil

    Tomato and Red Onion Salad

    Lightly seasoned with olive oil, vinegar, and fresh basil, this Mediterranean tomato and red onion salad is a celebration of summer flavors.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin SaveSaved! Rate Email recipe + ingredient list
    Special diet: gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, vegan
    Course: Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American, Italian, Mediterranean
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 40kcal
    Author: Amy Katz

    Equipment

    • Tomato Knife
    • 5-blade herb scissors

    Ingredients

    • 1 dry pint cherry tomatoes, (or grape tomatoes) halved or quartered
    • ½ cup red onion, sliced crosswise (See Notes)
    • 2 Tablespoons fresh basil, chopped or cut with herb scissors
    • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
    • salt and pepper, to taste
    US Customary - Metric
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    Instructions

    • Place all the ingredients in a medium bowl.
    • Toss well to combine. Taste and adjust for salt and pepper and serve.

    Notes

    Success tip:
    If the onion tastes too strong for your liking, let the onion slices soak for at least 15 minutes in a bowl of ice water. Drain and rinse them under cold water, then proceed with the recipe.
    Storing:
    Leftover salad can be covered and refrigerated for about 2 days. I personally prefer this salad fresh and at room temperature. This way the tomatoes have the most flavor.
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    Nutrition

    Calories: 40kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 34mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 54IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional information is an estimation only.

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    About Amy

    Amy Katz is a vegan recipe developer, photographer, and Certified Vegan Nutrition Health Coach. She loves sharing delicious plant-based Mediterranean diet recipes that home cooks of all levels can enjoy. Her easy vegan recipes have been featured on HuffPost, LIVESTRONG, Healthline, Parade, VegNews, BuzzFeed, MSN, Greatist, Country Living, Insider, Brit+Co, Well+Good, and more. She lives in Orange County, California with the love of her life, Brad, and their adorable black cat, Ozzy.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    All commentsI made this
    1. David

      July 02, 2021 at 6:16 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Amy Katz

        July 02, 2021 at 8:03 pm

        I'm so happy you enjoyed it, David!

        Reply
    2. Connie Wobig

      June 20, 2019 at 3:57 pm

      5 stars
      Made this for dinner tonight. So simple so good. Will make it again.

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Amy! As a Certified Vegan Nutrition Health Coach, my passion is creating vegan Mediterranean diet recipes to inspire everyone to choose plant-based meals more often. At Veggies Save The Day you'll find simple delicious recipes that are easy to make any night of the week.

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