There’s about to be a glut of something around here. That would be tomatoes. And I couldn’t be happier! A fresh tomato, picked at the peak of ripeness and eaten still warm from the sun’s rays…why that’s just about as close to perfection as you can get.
I’ve always grown tomatoes. Even in the years when I didn’t plant much of a garden, I always had tomatoes. However, in the place where we live now it has become almost impossible to grow anything at all because of the deer and squirrel population. If the deer don’t eat it, the squirrels do. Even all the little apples off our tree.
Have you ever seen a squirrel try to wrestle an apple down a tree without dropping it? After you get over your fury at the squirrel for mutilating your crop (once again), it can be downright hilarious. Here’s this teeny little squirrel with a huge mouthful of apple trying to maneuver the very limber limbs of an apple tree. It’s nearly as entertaining as when BeeBop puts oil on the bird feeder post so they can’t climb up it.
Of course, one of my most favorite ways to enjoy fresh, ripe garden tomatoes is in a tomato sandwich. The classic one – two slices of soft, white bread spread thickly with good mayonnaise, topped with slices of juicy tomato, and lots of salt and pepper. Hold over the sink and eat it while the juice drips down your arm. Yum. Summer.
When you get tired of tomato sandwiches (What! As if!), here’s another idea for those beauties. A Tomato and Avocado Salad with onion and cilantro dressed simply with lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. It’s almost as yummy as a tomato sandwich!
The very essence of summer! Light, refreshing, and healthy Tomato and Avocado Salad. Click To Tweet
Arrange the sliced tomatoes, avocado, and onion on a platter. Scatter the cilantro over the top.
Drizzle with the lemon juice and olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Tomato and Avocado Salad
Ingredients
- 2 large, ripe tomatoes
- 1 ripe avocado, peeled and sliced
- 1/4 medium white onion, thinly sliced
- 1-2 tblsp. fresh cilantro leaves
- Juice of half a lemon
- 2 tblsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
Instructions
- Arrange the sliced tomatoes, avocado, and onion on a platter.
- Scatter the cilantro over the top.
- Drizzle with the lemon juice and olive oil.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Notes
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This post originally published June 27, 2014
Other tomato salad recipes you might enjoy:
- Tomato Salad with Soy Sauce from Simply Recipes
- Cucumber and Tomato Salad from Natasha’s Kitchen
- Middle Eastern Tomato Salad (Salad Shirazi) from Kalyn’s Kitchen
- Blueberry and Tomato Salad from Leite’s Culinaria
- Peach and Heirloom Tomato Salad from White on Rice Couple
- Caprese Salad with a Twist from Creative Culinary
I seriously could eat a version of this every single day in the summer. Alas, my grandparents’ and parents’ green thumbs were not passed down to me so I have to rely on my CSA, farmers market and kindness of neighbors’ gardens for my tomato cravings :)
I wish we had a CSA in this area! No such luck, so I have to grow my own :-)
Love avocados and tomatoes! I’m about to have a bunch of tomatoes in my garden too…can’t wait!
Me, too, Taylor! Tomatoes and avocados were meant for each other.
This looks like such a gorgeous salad! We are about to have a TON of tomatoes coming from our garden this year! Garden fresh tomatoes are the best!
I agree, Amanda. Nothing like tomatoes fresh from the garden.
I love the combination of tomatoes and avocados! Now to give this yummy salad a try. xo
Hope you like it, Kelly. When the photo shoot was over, my husband and I sat down and demolished the whole platter!
Well I just got shipped a case of avocados and I’m sure the tomatoes will be coming any day now with my CSA. I am ready for this salad!
Wow, a whole case of avocados! Enjoy them!
Aren’t huge southern red tomatoes right off the vine just the best! Love the salad!
Yes, they are, Angie! The absolute best!
Yum, I would eat this ALL summer!
This is my FAVORITE!
If my tomatoes ever grow I’ll be making this! :)
Lana, what kind of tomatoes are you growing this year? I love so many different types. Sandwiches and salads, I can’t wait.
I’m growing Cherokee Purple, Golden Boy, Mortgage Lifter, Indigo Rose, Yellow Pear, Sun Gold, and a red cherry that I can’t remember the name :-) We’ve had some off the cherry varieties already and the others should start coming in around July 4. Tomato sandwiches for everyone!
So perfect for hot summer suppers.
One of summer’s best is a fresh, just-picked-from-the-garden tomato! I love this recipe! Thanks. :)
To me this is the perfect summer salad!
Drooling- this looks amazing! I wish it was my lunch today!
It’s definitely my lunch today. Has been several days lately!
This is one of my favorite summer salad combos. I will be making this for our 4th of July barbecue.
This is very similar to what I make, adding shrimp, and a ranch kind of dressing. Serve it over chopped lettuce and EVEN MEN WILL EAT IT!
Miss P
Yum! That sounds delicious, too. I love the idea of adding shrimp to this salad.
I WISH I could eat avocadoes – I would eat this EVERY SINGLE day!