Spiced Tomato Salad (with Creamy Dressing)
Description
This is so pretty and so super easy! Thick and creamy dressing smoothed on a plate or platter, fresh tomatoes (assorted sizes and/or colors are really lovely), a drizzle of very light dressing, and then a sprinkling of pickled onions and fresh cilantro. Borrowed from America’s Test Kitchen, I already know this will be one of the summer hits of 2026 – enjoy!
Ingredients
Pickled Onions – make these first if you don’t have them on hand – 1/2 cup thinly sliced shallot or red onion, 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and sugar, about 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. Combine well in a glass bowl and mix when you think about it – they’re good to go in about 15 minutes but soften, (and pink up) if you’re able to leave them longer. I keep a container in the fridge and they’ve never not been used before a week has passed.
Creamy Dressing (for the bottom of the plate)
1/2 c. sour cream AND 1/2 t. lime zest AND 1/4 t. sea salt
1/4 c. mayonnaise AND 2 cloves of garlic, very finely minced
Tomato Layer
~1 1/2 lbs. vine-ripened tomatoes – I used a combo of sizes and cut the small ones in half and the larger ones into wedges
Lime Spiced Dressing (to drizzle over top)
1/2 t. EACH sea salt, cumin AND paprika
1/4 t. EACH sugar AND freshly ground pepper
1 T. avocado oil AND 2 t. freshly squeezed lime juice (or more to taste)
Garnishes (to finish the plate) – chopped fresh cilantro and pickled onions (or shallots)
Instructions
Whisk together the 5 creamy dressing ingredients and smooth the mixture out onto a dinner plate or small platter. Arrange the tomatoes in a pretty/rustic pattern and if you’re not serving this immediately, pop the plate into the fridge.
Whisk together the 7 lime spiced dressing ingredients and immediately before serving, sprinkle evenly over all of the tomatoes. Garnish with the cilantro and pickled onions and serve with a spatula type utensil to make sure that every scoop includes both dressings. This was perfect with a Mexican meal but would be a really lovely accompaniment to just about anything!
