Heirloom Tomato Salad with Pickled Onions

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Pickled onions add tangy flavor to this simple tomato salad. Use your favorite varieties of tomatoes—even cherry tomatoes, Matthew Raiford's wife's favorite, will be delicious (you'll need about 6 cups total). The pickling liquid is worth saving: you can pickle more vegetables with it, or whisk with oil and fresh herbs for a simple vinaigrette.

Overhead view of a rustic off-white plate of Heirloom Tomato Salad with Pickled Onions recipe
Photo:

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf

Active Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
3 hrs 20 mins
Servings:
8
Overhead view of ingredients spread out on a marble counter for Heirloom Tomato Salad with Pickled Onions recipe

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup red-wine vinegar

  • 1 cup water

  • ¼ cup packed light brown sugar

  • 1 ½ teaspoons pickling spice

  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

  • 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced

  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

  • ¼ cup chopped fresh chives

  • 3 large heirloom tomatoes, sliced

Directions

  1. Bring vinegar and water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add brown sugar, pickling spice and salt. Cook, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and add onions. Let cool to room temperature, about 1 hour.

    Overhead view of a saucepan cooking vinegar and water mixture for Heirloom Tomato Salad with Pickled Onions recipe

    Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf

  2. With a slotted spoon, transfer the onions to a pint-size mason jar, then add 3/4 cup of the pickling liquid. (Discard any remaining liquid.) Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.

    Overhead view of a clear jar and lid for Heirloom Tomato Salad with Pickled Onions recipe

    Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf

  3. Drain the onions, reserving 1/2 cup pickling liquid. (Discard the rest or reserve for another use.) Whisk the reserved 1/2 cup pickling liquid, oil and chives in a small bowl. Arrange tomatoes and the drained pickled onions on a platter and drizzle with the vinaigrette.

    Overhead view of two glass bowls with onions and pickling liquid for Heirloom Tomato Salad with Pickled Onions recipe

    Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf

To make ahead

Refrigerate pickled onions (Steps 1-2) for up to 2 days.

Originally appeared: EatingWell.com, August 2023

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

156 Calories
14g Fat
7g Carbs
1g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Serving Size about 1 cup
Calories 156
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 7g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 5g
Added Sugars 3g 6%
Protein 1g 2%
Total Fat 14g 18%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Vitamin A 634IU 13%
Vitamin C 11mg 12%
Vitamin E 2mg 13%
Folate 15mcg 4%
Vitamin K 9mcg 8%
Sodium 141mg 6%
Calcium 15mg 1%
Magnesium 10mg 2%
Potassium 194mg 4%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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