If you’re a tomato fan but never tried a fresh heirloom tomato – and you’re fortunate enough to have them available where you live, just get ‘em! They’re awesome!

Heirloom tomatoes are tomato varieties of different sizes, shapes and colors that have been passed down from generation to generation to maintain their favorable flavor, color and texture characteristics. Heirlooms are most plentifully available at the end of summer and are best when they’ve been ripened on the vine taken fresh off the field.

I got the gigantic gorgeous yellow and slightly red heirloom tomato along with the fresh basil and red onion to make the salad shown here at Berberian Farms  in Northborough, Massachusetts. And though heirloom tomatoes are plenty flavorful enough to be had just as they are plain or any way you want, the salad you see here is “chop, slice and pour” easy to make and sings with summer-fresh flavor!

Preparation Time: 5-10 minutes

Below are short lists and pictures showing what you need to make this salad. As always, just click any picture on this page for a free, easy to follow step-by-step picture book recipe.

Ingredients (for 3-4)

• 1-2 Heirloom Tomatoes (the one shown below is unusually large)
• 2-3 Garlic Cloves
• 1/4 Red (or any) Onion
• Handful of Fresh Basil
• Feta Cheese (can be substituted with Parmesan or any cheese)
• Olive Oil
• Balsamic (or any) Vinegar
• Salt
• Ground Black Pepper

Equipment

• Cutting Board
• Sharp (Chef’s) Knife
• Plate