Tomato Vinaigrette

This summery recipe Tomato Vinaigrette is infused with fresh basil-delicious on salads, spooned over grilled scallops, fish or chicken, or even used as a marinade for grilling! 

To listen is to lean in softly with the willingness to be changed by what we hear.

Mark Nep0

Wondering what to do with all your end-of-summer tomatoes? Make this Tomato vinaigrette! You’ll find a hundred uses for it-trust me! All week, we’ve been tossing it with leafy green salads, grain salads, melon salads, and spooning it over grilled fish and scallops. Last night I marinated chicken with it before grilling, it was so tasty! It adds a savory summery flavor that I think you’ll love. A savory, subtly sweet, tangy, tomatoey-flavored jar of summer goodness!

Try it with our Tomato Watermelon Salad and Grilled Scallops both featuring Tomato Vinaigrette, amazing yummy summer delights! FYI: Here is the Salad Dressing Bottle we are using!

Why You’ll Love Tomato Vinaigrette!

1. Intense Fresh Tomato Flavor: The process of charring the tomatoes or roasting them enhances their natural sweetness and intensifies their flavor. This vinaigrette is bursting with the delicious taste of ripe tomatoes.
2. Versatility: Tomato Vinaigrette is incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. Whether you drizzle it over salads, spoon it over grilled fish or chicken, or use it as a marinade for grilling, it adds a savory and summery flavor that enhances any dish.
3. Simple Ingredients: This vinaigrette is made with simple ingredients that you likely already have in your kitchen, such as ripe cherry tomatoes, olive oil, red wine vinegar, maple syrup (or honey), shallot, garlic, and basil. The combination of these ingredients creates a delightful and well-balanced flavor.
4. Health Benefits: Tomatoes are known for their nutritional benefits. They are low in calories, high in nutrients like vitamin C and potassium, and rich in antioxidants like lycopene. By incorporating Charred Tomato Vinaigrette into your meals, you’re adding a healthy boost to your dishes.
5. Customizable: You have the freedom to choose how you want to char the tomatoes for this vinaigrette. Whether you do it on the stovetop in a skillet, roast them in the oven, or grill them, you can adapt the method based on your preferences or the season.

Tomato Vinaigrette Ingredients

• Ripe cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes– Using ripe cherry or grape tomatoes is the best! These small tomatoes have a sweet and intense flavor. If you have access to fresh garden tomatoes, those would be ideal. However, store-bought varieties will work just fine as well.
• Olive oil– Extra virgin olive oil is the best choice for dressings. Good quality will make this vinaigrette taste amazing!
• Red wine vinegar– Red wine vinegar is the preferred vinegar for this recipe. However, you can also use sherry vinegar or white wine vinegar as an alternative.
• Maple syrup– Maple syrup adds a subtle sweetness to the vinaigrette. It pairs well with the tomatoes, but if you don’t have maple syrup on hand, honey can be used as a substitute.
• Shallot– Shallots are used in this recipe for their milder flavor compared to red onions. When roasted, shallots deepen in flavor and add a balancing savory taste to the vinaigrette.
• Garlic– the pungent savory flavor that makes everything more delicious!
• Fresh Basil– It adds freshness and pairs well with the tomato flavor.as always, marrying perfectly with tomatoes.
• Sea salt and pepper

See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.   

How to make Tomato Vinaigrette

During the hot months of summer, I prefer charring on the stovetop or charring on the grill to keep the house cool. In fall, when tomatoes start racking up in the garden, and temperatures cool, roasting is a great option, especially if making larger batches.

Step 1: Char (stovetop or grill) or Roast the tomatoes in the oven.

The tomatoes are given a quick char in a dry skillet or the tomatoes are roasted with the oil and the garlic and shallots in the oven. Either work!

Tip: The charring, grilling or roasting will intensify the tomato flavor and sweetness, so always try to do this.

Step 2: Place the tomatoes and remaining ingredients in a blender and pulse a few times. 

Tip: Don’t blend this too smooth, a little texture is nice here, you want to see bits of the fresh herbs here. You can also use a food processor or immersion blender in a jar.

Step 3: Place the mixture in a salad dressing bottle or jar and refrigerate until using.

Tip: If spooning this over grilled fish, or scallops, it’s ok for it to be slightly warm or at room temp. For most salads though, especially this Tomato Watermelon Salad you’ll want it nice and cold.

The Tomato Vinaigrette will keep up to 5 days in the fridge, or feel free to freeze!

Enjoy!

xoxo

Sylvia

More Dressing Recipes You May Like

Greek Salad Dressing

Italian Dressing

Creamy Pesto Dressing

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• Lemony Leek Dressing
• Spirulina Dressing
• Vegan Ranch Dressing
• Raw Apple Cider Vinaigrette

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