Simple & delicious: Tomato & onion vinegar salad

This is such a simple and delicious salad that it even seems silly to call it a “recipe” but when I whacked this up on Instagram a few weeks ago I had so much feedback and questions about it I thought I better get it on the blog so that you can refer back to it whenever you need to.

My Grandmothers used to make a version of this salad I am sure of it, and I most definitely have had it at my sister in law’s Croatian family over the years here in Australia and over in Croatia when we visited a few years ago. Its beauty is in its simplicity (like most of the best things in life I guess) – the flavours just work together and cut through any BBQ meat that you serve it with it. I made this for a BBQ lunch for the family which I served with some marinated pork rashers and cutlets, this salad and some glass potatoes of course. It was simple and delicious and while it’s still bloody freezing here it gave us all hope of the summer to come. Of course this would work better in summer when tomatoes are in season, ripe and plentiful and full of flavour. It’s not too far from a Caprese salad too that the Italians love (layered with basil and mozzarella) and I had someone say it was a traditional Chilean salad too – I think there are versions of this all the world over!

Tomato & onion Vinegar Salad

4-5 tomatoes finely sliced and chopped in half
1 red onion finely sliced and chopped in half
2-3 tablespoons of red wine vinegar
2-3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
Salt & Pepper
Additional herbs could be added like mint, parsley or basil finely chopped and sprinkled through

I try and make this salad a little ahead of time (up to 30 mins before we eat as the vinegar pickles the onion and takes away a little of the bite and spice of the raw onion

1.Finely chop the tomatoes (I used my serated bread knife to get the thinnest slices I can) and place into a large flat bowl or platter

2. Finely chop the red onion and place on top of the tomato

3. Throw on a few good dashes of red wine vinegar (a few tablespoons at least) and the same with the extra virgin olive oil

4. Season with lots of salt and pepper and toss

5. You can continue to toss the salad before you serve to make sure the vinegar and olive oil coat all

Tomato & onion vinegar salad

This salad is as simple as they come but delcious and a family favouirte for a reson.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine Mediterranean

Ingredients
  

  • 4-5 tomatoes finely sliced and chopped in half
  • 1 large red onion finely sliced and chopped in half
  • 2-3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt & pepper

Instructions
 

  • Finely chop the tomatoes (I used my serated bread knife to get the thinnest slices I can) and place into a large flat bowl or platter
  • Finely chop the red onion and place on top of the tomato
  • Throw on a few good dashes of red wine vinegar (a few tablespoons at least) and the same with the extra virgin olive oil
  • Season with lots of salt and pepper and toss
  • You can continue to toss the salad before you serve to make sure the vinegar and olive oil coat all
Keyword Tomato salad

Do you have a variation of this classic in your repertoire too?
What’s one of your favourite combos that’s this simple and good?

Comments

  1. Isabel Besse says

    My version (From my Belgian Mother) is with EVOO & fresh lemon juice for the dressing, garnished with fresh chopped parsley.

  2. This is a very old recipe in my family with no European connections. Ours had finely sliced cucumber as well as oniion and tomato and both mum and my grandmother diluted the vinegar with a bit of water, it needs to standa while to allow the flavours to mingle.v

  3. Thanks beth
    We still have this salad … so easy and delish!
    Love to soak the onions for a time in the vinegar brings out the sweetness!
    Mxx

  4. Dubravka Harries says

    OMG ! My mom use to make this for us. Yip I, Croatian and I’ve forgot all about it! I remember she would put either small cubes of bread or boiled potatoes in hers. Thus has brought back some good memories and I’m going to make some now

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