This summery Tomato Salad with sesame ginger dressing and fresh herbs is an easy, delicious way to savor ripe, juicy heirloom tomatoes! Vegan and gluten-free.
Summer tomatoes can pretty much speak for themselves with their rich, meaty flavor, but enhanced with toasted sesame ginger dressing, this tomato salad creates flavor excitement in every bite! Fresh basil and cilantro add a fragrant aromatic balance, while the toasted sesame seeds give a satisfying crunch. This salad is perfect for summer gatherings, a refreshing side dish at a barbecue, or a sophisticated starter for a dinner party.
Why You’ll Love This
- A colorful, seasonal dish! A summer salad with juicy, ripe heirloom tomatoes.
- Bold, flavorful dressing. Toasty, umami-rich sesame ginger dressing!
- Versatile! Enjoy for a light lunch, a refreshing side dish, or as an impressive starter!
Tomato Salad Recipe Ingredients
- Fresh Tomatoes: Use heirloom, beefsteak or garden ripe for the best flavor and texture! A few scattered cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes are especially pretty!
- Fresh herbs: Torn basil leaves, chopped cilantro, and chives (or green onion) add fresh, herby flavor.
- Sesame seeds: Toasted white, brown, or black sesame seeds (or a combination!) add a delightful crunch.
- Sesame Ginger Dressing: Braggs or lite soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, mirin, rice vinegar, tahini paste, miso paste, and finely grated fresh ginger.
*See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients.
Tomato Salad Instructions
Step 1: Make the sesame ginger dressing. Whisk together dressing ingredients (Braggs liquid aminos, sesame oil, mirin, rice vinegar, tahini, miso, and grated ginger).
Step 2: Prep the tomatoes. Slice tomatoes and place on a serving platter or in a shallow bowl, layering with cilantro, basil, scallions, and chives.
Step 3: Drizzle dressing over top. Add a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Season with kosher salt and black pepper if you wish!
*See recipe card below for full list of ingredients and instructions.
Serving Suggestions
Serve as a flavorful side dish with Asian-inspired mains like:
- Teriyaki Mushroom Lettuce Wraps
- Korean Tacos
- Japanese Farm-Style Teriyaki Chicken
- Huli Huli Chicken
- Miso Eggplant
- Baked Miso Salmon
Chef’s Tips
- Switch up the herbs: Play around with the herbs according to what is in your garden or at the market. You could use parsley, Thai basil, cilantro, mint, or dill too!
- Add spice: Top with red pepper flakes or better yet Chili Crisp!
- Add other veggies or fruit: You could easily add sliced avocado, mango or peaches, grilled eggplant, or sliced cucumbers.
- Add more crunch: In addition to the toasted sesame seeds, try any chopped nuts like walnuts, pistachios, or pine nuts. Another crunchy option would be red onion or minced garlic!
- Incorporate cheese: You could layer in fresh mozzarella or feta cheese if you wish!
- Make it even simpler: The dressing makes this salad, however when in a pinch you can simply use vinegar (red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, or champagne vinegar) and extra virgin olive oil.
FAQs
Ripe and juicy heirloom tomatoes are delicious for this seasonal summer salad. Vine-ripe fresh garden tomatoes are another great choice, and we recommend scattering in some cherry tomatoes (or grape tomatoes) too! When in season, tomatoes are sweet and juicy. Visit your local farmers market to find the best choice of tomatoes.
This is up to you! We like to slice the tomatoes first. You can leave them as large slices, or you can halve or quarter them. If you prefer, you can simply chop the tomatoes too. Just be sure to leave them as somewhat larger pieces so the sweet juices stay in tact!
You certainly can! For an impressive display, lay out the tomato slices and drizzle dressing over top and scatter the herbs. Or simply stir everything together if you want to chop the tomatoes and make sure each piece is seasoned well.
Once prepared, tomato salad is best enjoyed right away! However, you can make the dressing in advance and store it for up to a week in a jar in the refrigerator.
Health Benefits of Tomatoes!
Tomatoes are not just delicious, they are incredibly nutritious and offer numerous health benefits!
- Rich in antioxidants: Tomatoes are a great source of antioxidants like lycopene, which helps protect cells from damage and reduce inflammation.
- Heart health: The lycopene in tomatoes can lower LDL cholesterol levels and blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart disease. They also contain potassium and folate, which are beneficial for heart health.
- Cancer prevention: Several studies have suggested that the high levels of antioxidants in tomatoes can help reduce the risk of various cancers, particularly prostate cancer.
- Skin health: The high content of vitamin C in tomatoes boosts collagen production and protects against sun damage, leading to healthier skin.
- Improved vision: Tomatoes are rich in vitamin A, which is essential for good vision. They also contain other compounds like lutein and zeaxanthin that protect the eyes from light-induced damage.
- Bone Health: Tomatoes contain vitamin K and calcium, which are important for maintaining strong bones and preventing conditions like osteoporosis.
Enjoy this simple tomato salad recipe! It makes a colorful, beautiful addition to any meal. 🙂
xoxo
Love this recipe? Please let us know in the comments and leave a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below the recipe card.
More Favorite Tomato Salads!
Tomato Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: Asian
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This summery Tomato Salad is a delicious way to savor ripe, juicy heirloom tomatoes! Sprinkled with fresh herbs and drizzled with a flavorful sesame ginger dressing. Vegan & GF adaptable.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds fresh tomatoes (heirloom or garden ripe +a few cherry tomatoes scattered makes it pretty!)
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped (or green onion)
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted (white, brown, black or a combination!)
Sesame Ginger Dressing
- 1 tablespoon Braggs Liquid Aminos or lite soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons mirin (or sub rice vinegar with a pinch of sugar)
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon tahini paste
- 1/2 teaspoon miso paste ( feel free to use GF miso)
- 1/2–1 teaspoon fresh ginger, finely grated
Instructions
- For the dressing: Whisk together the Braggs liquid aminos, sesame oil, mirin, rice vinegar, tahini, miso, and grated ginger.
- Slice tomatoes and arrange on a platter or shallow bowl, layering with cilantro, basil, scallions, and chives.
- Drizzle dressing over the top.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Season with salt and black pepper if desired.
Notes
Sesame tomato salad is best enjoyed immediately. You can prepare the dressing ahead and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Cut tomatoes fresh for the meal and add dressing and fresh herbs to taste!
Leftover dressed salad will keep up to 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 70
- Sugar: 4.7 g
- Sodium: 179 mg
- Fat: 3.9 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 7.8 g
- Fiber: 2.2 g
- Protein: 2.4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
I really love this savory dressing with fresh tomatoes. I get tired of the same old balsamic. I had some heirlooms that were perfectly ripe. The sesame flavor was awesome!
Glad you gave it a try Fern!
A fabulous way to use up an abundance of heirloom tomatoes! I only had basil handy out of the herbs, and I ground up extra sesame seeds since I didn’t have tahini on hand, but the results were still super tasty. I think the splash of mirin makes all the difference, giving a bit of sweetness.
Nice Margaret! So glad you enjoyed.
THIS DRESSING MUST BE DILUTED WITH 2-3 TLBS WATER. DRESSING IS VERY CONCENTRATED WITHOUT DILUTION. GREAT DRESSING!
Hi Kimberly, Glad you made the dressing work for you. Heirloom tomatoes have so much liquid that it balances out with dressing. We like to start with some dressing and let others add more as needed.
This was excellent Sylvia! A meal of this and fresh corn was perfect.
So happy you enjoyed this one Karen!