Tomato and Onion Salad
This easy Italian Tomato and Onion Salad recipe is made with Roma tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, red onion and fresh basil all tossed in a delicious homemade vinaigrette. It’s a really simple tomato salad to make and it’s a great summer salad to pull together with ripe juicy tomatoes.

Salads don’t get much easier than this one! Our tomato salad comes together in a pinch and it makes a quick side dish to serve with chicken or fish and warm Italian garlic bread fresh from the oven.
Our easy Italian tomato and red onion salad comes together in about 15 minutes. To make it, we start out by whisking together the ingredients for the dressing. Then slice the onions and prep the tomatoes. Put it all in your favorite salad bowl and give it a quick toss, then drizzle with vinaigrette toss it all together. Toss in the basil and gently toss again.
- Roma Tomatoes. We like to use a mix of cherry tomatoes and Roma tomatoes for this salad. They’re both are less watery and have fewer seeds that garden tomatoes. But use garden tomatoes or heirloom tomatoes if you like.
- Red Onion. We use red onion sliced thin. If you want a more mellow onion taste, just soak the slices of onion in a little bowl filled with water for about 15 minutes. Remove them from the water and pat them dry with paper towels before adding them to the salad.
- Herbs. We sprinkle in fresh basil to this salad which adds a nice pop of flavor. You can also fresh parsley as well if you want to add more fresh herbs to the mix.
- Vinaigrette. The vinaigrette that we toss this tomato salad with is made with extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, Parmesan cheese and finely chopped kalamata olives. It’s SO good! If you want to try another vinaigrette, try our Red wine vinaigrette, Balsamic Vinaigrette, or our Italian Dressing.
Find printable recipe with the measurements below.
How To Make It
- Make Dressing. Whisk together the ingredients in a bowl or add the ingredients to a mason jar, seal the lid and shake well. You can also add the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Toss. Add the Roma tomatoes, cherry tomatoes and red onion to a large serving bowl. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the ingredients and toss. Sprinkle in the fresh basil and toss again. Season with salt and black pepper or red pepper to taste.
Can I Make This Salad Ahead Of Time?
It’s best to slice the tomatoes the day you plan on serving this salad. You can make the dressing a day or two in advance, but you’ll need to remove it from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before you can drizzle it over the tomatoes. The olive oil in the dressing may solidify in the refrigerator and will need a bit of time to liquify again before you can use it.
What Can I Serve With Tomato Red Onion Salad?
Side Salad. Serve this Tomato Salad as a side salad with chicken or fish, like this Chicken Milanese, Marinated Greek Chicken, Pan Seared Chicken Breast or Easy Parmesan Crusted Chicken,
Added To Bowls. Scoop into bowls like this Mediterranean Bowl or Greek Chicken Bowl.
How To Choose The Best Roma Tomatoes
Look for plump, heavy tomatoes with smooth skins free of wrinkles, dark spots or cracks. Fully ripe tomatoes are softer and will give a little to the touch. You only want to buy fully ripe tomatoes if you’re planning on using them right away.
How Long Do Roma Tomatoes Last?
There’s no precise answer to this, because it depends on how ripe they are when you buy them, how you store them and whether you refrigerate them or not. Typically they will last on the counter for up to 7 days, but keep them away from direct sunlight. Fully ripe tomatoes can be stored in the refrigerator for a day or two, but if you keep them there any longer, you will have a watered down, mealy and mostly tasteless tomato on your hands. Don’t put them unripe in the refrigerator because this will stop the ripening process.
More Easy Salad Recipes
Tomato Salad
This easy Italian Tomato and Onion Salad recipe is made with Roma tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, red onion and fresh basil all tossed in a delicious homemade vinaigrette.
Ingredients
- 6 Roma tomatoes
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 cup red onion, sliced thin
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, sliced thin
- Vinaigrette
For the Vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic, grated or minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 6 kalamata olives, pitted and finely minced
- 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, finely grated
- 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1-2 tablespoons water
- Pinch of salt and black pepper or red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Whisk together the ingredients for the vinaigrette in a bowl or add them to a wide-mouth mason jar, seal the lid and shake well to blend. You can also use a stick blender (immersion blender) to blend the ingredients in a wide mouth mason jar.
- Cut the Roma tomatoes into quarters and slice the cherry tomatoes in half. Toss the tomatoes and sliced onion in a large serving bowl. Drizzle with the dressing. Add the fresh basil and toss again. Season with salt and black pepper or red pepper flakes to taste.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 438Total Fat: 45gSaturated Fat: 7gUnsaturated Fat: 38gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 205mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 3gSugar: 4gProtein: 4g
theharvestkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate information, however, this nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. The nutritional information provided comes from online sources and calculations. See full disclaimer on About page.





