This heirloom tomato salad with arugula and balsamic glaze is the ultimate summer recipe. You can use your home grown tomatoes, or buy a few of the flavorful heirloom varieties (#worthit). Fresh mozzarella goes perfectly in this caprese”esque” salad, as does the light lemon dressing on the arugula. Fast, healthy, delicious and beautiful!
Heirloom Tomato Salad with Arugula and Balsamic Glaze
The heat is on! Summer’s in full swing, and I don’t know about you, but I’m craving lighter, fresher, super flavorful food. Salads are such a great way to eat when it’s hot out. No need to turn on the stove, and you can take advantage of the fresh produce that’s at it’s flavor peak. But salads can also be boring, so if you’re looking for inspiration, try adding this heirloom tomato salad with arugula and balsamic glaze to your rotation! It’s a simple, no cook recipe that also looks elegant enough for company. Or forget about everyone else, just impress yourself with it!
Ingredients
Even though you can get tomatoes all year round, when it’s summertime, they taste more “tomatoey”. Seasonal eating is a movement for a reason, right? Because tomatoes are the star of this dish, use the best ones you can find. Stop by a farmer’s market, or if you grow your own tomatoes (good job and I’m very jealous!) definitely use those. Or, do the next best thing and buy the heirloom varieties at the grocery store. They really do taste better! Yes, they are more expensive than the other tomatoes, but you only need two or three of them, so it’s worth the splurge.
If you end up going with the heirlooms, the first thing you’ll notice is that they’re funny looking. In a beautifully unique way. I love the variety, and they’re really pretty when you slice them. Buy a few different colors if you can find them. After all, you eat with your eyes first, right?
The rest of the ingredients are similar to what you would use in a caprese salad. The main difference is that I use arugula tossed with lemon juice and olive oil as the base, and no basil. I think you’ll like the peppery flavor of the arugula with the sweet tomatoes. But you can totally toss in some basil in if you have it.
You’ll also need fresh mozzarella and my new favorite ingredient, balsamic glaze. If you haven’t used it before, it’s sweetened balsamic vinegar that’s been reduced to a thicker glaze consistency. And it’s perfect on this salad. You can order it from Amazon, and most grocery stores carry it now too, usually in the vinegar aisle. Once you try it, you’ll be putting it on every recipe you want to finish with a tangy, sweet bite.
Prep Work
Start by slicing those beautiful tomatoes into about 1/4 inch slices. I like using a serrated knife for tomatoes because it seems to get through the skin more easily without squishing it. Next you’ll cut the fresh mozzarella into slices about the same width as the tomatoes.
The next step is optional, but I like to give the arugula a rough chop. I don’t like big pieces of lettuce/arugula in salads. It’s awkward trying to shove a forkful of big leaves into your mouth!
Finally you’ll toss the chopped arugula with a little fresh lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Just enough to dress the arugula and add extra flavor.
Assembly
Now we’re in the home stretch – the salad assembly! Start by pouring the dressed arugula into your serving dish.
Next you’ll layer the tomato and mozzarella slices on top of the arugula. Make it pretty!
Finally, take that delicious balsamic glaze and drizzle it over the top.
Dig in!
This heirloom tomato salad with arugula and balsamic glaze is the perfect, simple recipe for your summertime table. Or anytime table!
The perfect bite!
If you love the classic flavor combination of tomatoes and balsamic, you might also want to check out this marinated tomato salad!
My Favorite Products and Tools for this Recipe (Affiliate Links):
-
- The balsamic glaze, of course! You can make your own, but it’s also nice to have a bottle in the cupboard to add last minute flavor.
- A serrated knife is ideal for cutting tomatoes. You’ll cut smoothly through the skin without squishing the fruit.
- Of course you need a lemon juicer if you don’t have one already. I love these enameled ones. I have one for oranges and limes too!
Disclaimer: any links to products in this post may be affiliate links. This means I would get a small commission if the product was purchased. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. I only link to products I like and use myself, or are similar to what I use if the exact item isn’t available. Thank you!
Print
Heirloom Tomato Salad with Arugula and Balsamic Glaze
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Cuisine: American
Description
Heirloom tomato salad with arugula and balsamic glaze is the ultimate summer meal. You can use your home grown tomatoes, or buy a few of the flavorful heirloom varieties (#worthit). Fresh mozzarella goes perfectly in this caprese”esque” salad, as does the light lemon dressing on the arugula. Fast, healthy, delicious and beautiful!
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 2 – 3 large heirloom, vine ripened, or home grown tomatoes
- 1 ball of fresh mozzarella cheese (about 8 oz)
- 6 cups of arugula (or butter lettuce if you don’t like arugula)
- 1/4 cup balsamic glaze
Dressing
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- freshly ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- With a serrated knife, or very sharp chef’s knife, slice the tomatoes into 1/4 inch slices. Set aside.
- Slice the fresh mozzarella into 1/4 slices. Set aside.
- Rough chop the arugula if desired.
- Whisk the dressing ingredients in a medium mixing bowl, then add the chopped arugula. Toss to combine.
- Add the dressed arugula to your serving platter. Next layer your tomatoes and mozzarella slices on top of the salad. Finally, drizzle the balsamic glaze on top. Dig in!
Keywords: tomato salad, heirloom tomatoes, balsamic glaze
Soooo yummy and colorful!!! Gorgeous presentation. Now, I’m really hungry 😋.
Thanks Renee! It’s really easy too. Let me know if you try it!