When someone says "hey, can you bring a side to the BBQ this weekend," this is what you're bringing: Heirloom Tomato Goat Cheese Salad, thick slices and wedges of peak-season heirloom tomatoes with creamy goat cheese, three kinds of herbs (basil, dill, mint), and a punchy shallot-champagne vinaigrette. No cooking, fifteen minutes, and it eats like the best thing on the table. When tomatoes are this good I refuse to mess with them, and this salad is exactly that philosophy. My Avocado and Heirloom Tomato Salad is the creamy-avocado sibling, my Whipped Goat Cheese puts the same cheese to work as a dip, and my 50 Best BBQ Sides roundup has the rest of the cookout covered.
Heirloom Tomato Goat Cheese Salad at a Glance
- 🕒 Total Time: 15 minutes, zero cooking
- 👪 Servings: 6 as a side
- 🍝 Cuisine Type: Mediterranean / Summer Side
- 🧂 Flavor Profile: Juicy sweet-acid heirloom tomatoes, tangy creamy goat cheese, a triple-herb hit of basil, dill, and mint, and a garlicky shallot-champagne vinaigrette
- 📖 Dietary Info: Vegetarian and gluten-free; contains dairy (goat cheese)
- 📦 Storage Notes: Assemble and dress within an hour of serving; store whole tomatoes on the counter, never the fridge; the vinaigrette alone keeps a week refrigerated
- ⭐Why You'll Love It: Peak-season tomatoes need exactly this much help and no more: cheese, herbs, and a sharp vinaigrette. Fifteen no-cook minutes and it out-eats everything off the grill. This is the side dish people ask you to bring back next weekend.
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Why I Love This Recipe
There came a time last summer when the tomatoes from the farmers market were so incredibly flavorful that Thomas and I decided we were going to eat tomatoes every single night as a side dish. They are colorful and delicious and require almost no prep. Personally - when we're in peak tomato season, I don't like to mess with them. Just slice them, diced them or wedge them and add a few things on top and call it a day. Salt and pepper for sure. Cheese if you're feeling jazzy. Herbs because everything is better with greens. And a vinaigrette if you want to add an extra layer of flavor. It's perfect. Grab the recipe below and make it every night this week. You will NOT be disappointed!
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Ingredients
- 4 ripe heirloom tomatoes sliced or cut into wedges
- 1 cup cherry heirloom tomatoes sliced
- 1 cup of tiny baby tomatoes whole
- ½ cup Goat Cheese
- A handful of small basil leaves
- handful of dill leaves
- handful of mint leaves
For the dressing
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1 tablespoon champagne vinegar or red wine vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1 shallot finely chopped
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Substitutions & Swaps
🍅 Tomatoes
- Mixed heirlooms (called for) - Different colors and sizes eat and look better than any single variety
- Cherry tomatoes only - The off-season move; they're the only reliably sweet tomato from October to June
- Beefsteak or vine-ripened - Fine in high summer; salt them a few minutes early to wake them up
🧀 Cheese
- Goat cheese (called for) - Tangy and creamy; crumble it cold so it holds shape
- Feta - Saltier, firmer crumble; a half-step toward Greek salad
- Burrata or fresh mozzarella - Milky and mild; torn burrata makes it a caprese cousin
- Ricotta salata - Firm, salty shavings; great when you want cheese in every bite without creaminess
🌿 Herbs
- Basil + dill + mint (called for) - The triple-herb move is what separates this from every other tomato salad
- Basil only - Simplest version; still great
- Chives or tarragon - Oniony or anise-y respectively; use either in place of dill
- Oregano, fresh only - Leans it Greek; skip dried here, it fights the raw tomatoes
🥗 Vinaigrette
- Champagne vinegar (called for) - Delicate acid that doesn't bully the tomatoes
- Red wine vinegar (also called for as the swap) - Punchier; the post offers it interchangeably
- Good balsamic, drizzled not whisked - Sweet-dark accent over the top instead of a dressing
- Just olive oil + flaky salt - The purist route when the tomatoes are truly perfect
Substitutions & Swaps
🍅 Tomatoes
- Mixed heirlooms (called for) - Different colors and sizes eat and look better than any single variety
- Cherry tomatoes only - The off-season move; they're the only reliably sweet tomato from October to June
- Beefsteak or vine-ripened - Fine in high summer; salt them a few minutes early to wake them up
🧀 Cheese
- Goat cheese (called for) - Tangy and creamy; crumble it cold so it holds shape
- Feta - Saltier, firmer crumble; a half-step toward Greek salad
- Burrata or fresh mozzarella - Milky and mild; torn burrata makes it a caprese cousin
- Ricotta salata - Firm, salty shavings; great when you want cheese in every bite without creaminess
🌿 Herbs
- Basil + dill + mint (called for) - The triple-herb move is what separates this from every other tomato salad
- Basil only - Simplest version; still great
- Chives or tarragon - Oniony or anise-y respectively; use either in place of dill
- Oregano, fresh only - Leans it Greek; skip dried here, it fights the raw tomatoes
🥗 Vinaigrette
- Champagne vinegar (called for) - Delicate acid that doesn't bully the tomatoes
- Red wine vinegar (also called for as the swap) - Punchier; the post offers it interchangeably
- Good balsamic, drizzled not whisked - Sweet-dark accent over the top instead of a dressing
- Just olive oil + flaky salt - The purist route when the tomatoes are truly perfect
FAQs
What is an heirloom tomato?
An heirloom tomato is an old, open-pollinated tomato variety passed down for generations rather than bred for shipping and shelf life. That's why they come in wild colors and shapes and why they taste dramatically better than standard supermarket tomatoes. Peak season is mid to late summer, and that's when this salad is worth making.
Should you refrigerate heirloom tomatoes?
No. Refrigeration below about 55 degrees F shuts down the enzymes that produce tomato aroma and turns the texture mealy. Store them on the counter, stem side down, and eat them within a few days. Only refrigerate a cut tomato, and use it fast.
Can I use feta instead of goat cheese?
Absolutely; feta brings a saltier, firmer crumble and nudges the salad toward Greek territory. Burrata or fresh mozzarella work too if you want milky instead of tangy. See the Substitutions section for the full cheese rundown.
Can I make this tomato salad ahead of time?
Make the vinaigrette up to a week ahead and slice the cheese-and-herb prep earlier in the day, but cut and dress the tomatoes within an hour of serving. Dressed tomatoes weep and go soft fast. Assembly takes five minutes, so there's no real reason to rush it.
What herbs go best with tomatoes?
Basil is the classic, and this salad adds dill and mint for a triple-herb hit that makes it taste more complex than 15 minutes should allow. Chives, tarragon, and fresh oregano all work as swaps. Always torn or fresh, never dried, against raw tomatoes.
Heirloom Tomato Goat Cheese Salad
Ingredients
- 4 ripe heirloom tomatoes sliced or cut into wedges
- 1 cup cherry heirloom tomatoes sliced
- 1 cup of tiny baby tomatoes whole
- ½ cup Goat Cheese
- A handful of small basil leaves
- handful of dill leaves
- handful of mint leaves
For the dressing
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1 tablespoon champagne vinegar or red wine vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1 shallot finely chopped
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Arrange the tomatoes and goat cheese on a platter. Scatter with the herbs. Drizzle with the vinaigrette as needed.
For the dressing
- Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine. Adjust salt and pepper as needed.
Amazing ! Love , love , love tomatoes and goat cheese
We usually have this salad with tiny mozzarella balls and a balsamic vinegar glaze. However your recipe sounds delicious and I am going to try it. Your website always has innovative and delicious recipes. Thank You
Perfect for after the farmers market tomorrow
I am ALL over this!!
Yessssssss! The tomatoes are in full swing and I am always looking for something new and delicious to do with them. This goat cheese sounds like the perfect thing!