
Anyone from the south knows that tomatoes are a Southern staple. They’re also a vital ingredient used in many recipes by my family of Italian roots. This classic tomato salad can be served alongside various hot dishes or enjoyed alone with crusty bread. If you love tomatoes as much as I do, this is the perfect recipe for you.
Growing up, a classic tomato salad was often the featured side dish to many meals. It paired wonderfully with grilled hot dogs and chips in the summertime. I can recall sitting on the patio in my childhood, soaking up the sunshine, and folding a paper plate to siphon the zesty juices into my mouth. It also complimented a hearty steak dinner or roast with a side of mashed potatoes in the cooler months.

Something about these marinated tomatoes has just always completed a meal.
They are fresh, tangy, light and nearly impossible to mess up. Additionally, it’s the perfect thing to throw together if you’re on a budget or when you can’t find a good use for those tomatoes that have been sitting in the fridge for a few days. This salad is also the perfect dish to bring to a holiday gathering when you’re short on time or don’t particularly like cooking.
I’m going to share with you the recipe that was handed down to me through generations of my family. To this day, you can still catch me at midnight standing before the fridge, spooning tomato salad into my mouth like my life depends on it. Some things never change.
I rarely use measurements these days, but I’ll do my best to suggest them to you. You can reduce or add ingredients depending on how many people you’re serving… or, if you’re like me, you can go on and make a family sized bowl of this tomato salad, then proceed to cheerfully live off of it for the next few days!

Classic Tomato Salad
This recipe will serve a family of up to 6 people as a side dish:
Ingredients:
- 4 large tomatoes
(I used heirloom tomatoes this time, but feel free to use your favorite kind. If you’re using Roma tomatoes, use 6-8, if you’re using cherry tomatoes, use 16 oz.) - 2 small/medium sized onions
(I used sweet yellow onions, you can use less onions if you prefer but I like a good amount) - 1/3 cup Oil
(olive or vegetable will do, I used vegetable) - 1/4 cup Water
- Salt to taste
(I used pink Himilayan salt) - Pepper to taste
Additional optional seasonings:
- Oregano
- Basil
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Parsley
(If you have Italian Seasoning on hand, you can use that in lieu of herbs)

Let’s make it!
- Start by chopping the tomatoes
(I never use a specific method for this: you can cut them into wedges or dice them) - Toss the tomatoes into a large bowl and salt them generously
- Thinly slice the onions and add them to the tomatoes
- Add pepper, oil and any other seasonings to taste (I used all but Parsley this time around)
- Lastly, mix in the water then cover and refrigerate for at least one hour… or start eating them right out of the bowl!

This is the recipe, simple, wholesome and will hold up to a few days in the fridge! Feel free to use less oil and more water if you prefer a lighter salad. I suggest marinating the salad at least an hour so the onions can become tender and flavors can meld. The juice from the salad becomes slightly vinegary and can be used as an “Italian Dressing” in other dishes. Or you can simply sop it up with some fresh bread.
Feel free to adjust how much seasoning you use according to your family’s taste preferences. I hope you enjoy this Classic Tomato Salad! Happy eating, y’all!
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