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This fresh tomato salad is a simple, single serving side made with ripe tomatoes and a light olive oil and lemon dressing. Ready in 10 minutes, it’s bright, juicy, and perfect as an easy side dish.
Featured Comment
“Light, fresh and oh so GOOD!”
– Evelyn
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick: This fresh tomato salad comes together in 10 minutes.
- Simple Ingredients: Made with ripe tomatoes, olive oil, lemon juice, and fresh herbs.
- Light and Flavorful: Juicy tomatoes, briny capers, and a bright dressing create a balanced, vibrant salad.
- Perfect Side Dish: Serve it as a light lunch or alongside grilled chicken, fish, or pasta.
A bowl of ripe tomatoes tossed with olive oil and lemon juice is one of my favorite simple pleasures. When tomatoes are at their peak, they’re naturally sweet, juicy, and full of flavor, and they truly shine with just a few fresh ingredients.
I love the contrast of thin red onion and briny capers against the soft tomatoes, with parsley adding a clean, fresh finish. It’s the kind of fresh tomato salad I turn to when I want something light, bright, and incredibly satisfying.
Enjoy alongside baked chicken thighs, beef tenderloin, baked cod, or hamburger soup for a complete meal. For a boost of flavor, try adding a spoonful of homemade pesto or chickpea hummus.
If you’re looking for more single serving salad recipes, try our spinach orzo salad, hummus crunch salad, or simple cucumber salad.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this simple tomato salad recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Tomatoes: Use juicy, ripe tomatoes for the best flavor. Roma, cherry, grape, heirloom, or vine-ripe tomatoes all work well in this fresh tomato salad. Cut into bite-sized pieces so they absorb the olive oil and lemon dressing. Extra tomatoes can be used in ratatouille for one, single serving cioppino, or chicken caprese for one.
- Parsley: Finely chopped parsley adds freshness and color. Curly or flat-leaf both work. If preferred, substitute fresh basil or mint for a Mediterranean tomato salad variation. Use leftovers in single serving crab cakes, tabbouleh for one, or chicken margherita for one.
- Red Onion: Thinly sliced red onion adds sharp contrast and crunch. Start with a small amount and adjust to taste. Add extras to a small smoked salmon platter, a small batch of cowboy caviar, or a small Greek salad.
- Capers: Capers add a briny, slightly tangy flavor that balances the sweetness of ripe tomatoes. If needed, substitute chopped kalamata olives or omit. Use extras in our small slow cooker chicken piccata recipe.
- Garlic: One small clove, minced very finely or grated, adds depth without overpowering the salad.
- Olive Oil: Use good quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor. It forms the base of the simple dressing.
- Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice brightens the salad and enhances the natural sweetness of the tomatoes.
- Optional Add-ins: Add sliced cucumbers, crumbled feta, or fresh basil for a classic summer tomato salad variation.
How to Choose the Best Tomatoes
Choose tomatoes that are vibrant in color, slightly soft when gently pressed, and fragrant. Avoid wrinkled skin, bruises, or dull spots. If tomatoes are slightly underripe, let them sit at room temperature until fully ripe for better sweetness and flavor.
How To Make A Tomato Salad
These photos show how to make a quick tomato salad. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full instructions.
- Add the tomatoes, red onion, parsley, and capers to a small bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the dressing over the tomatoes and gently toss to coat evenly.
- Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed.
Expert Tips
- Let it rest briefly. If time allows, let the salad sit for 10 to 15 minutes so the tomatoes release their juices and create a light, flavorful dressing.
- Slice onions thinly. Very thin slices blend into the salad better and prevent overpowering bites.
- Start light on the dressing. Add a small amount first, toss, and add more only if needed so the tomatoes stay fresh and balanced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tomato salad is best made fresh. You can prep the ingredients ahead, but add the dressing and salt just before serving for the best flavor and texture.
It will keep for up to 1 day in the refrigerator, but the tomatoes will soften and release more juice over time.
Toss in cooked chicken, shrimp, or canned tuna for extra protein. You can also add chickpeas or white beans for a plant-based option.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this small tomato salad or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
If you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see!
Tomato Salad For One
Ingredients
- 1 large tomato -chopped or sliced
- 3 thin slices red onions
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon capers
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic -minced
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add the tomatoes, red onion, parsley, and capers to a small bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the dressing over the tomatoes and gently toss to coat evenly.
- Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed.
Notes
- Let it rest briefly. If time allows, let the salad sit for 10 to 15 minutes so the tomatoes release their juices and create a light, flavorful dressing.
- Slice onions thinly. Very thin slices blend into the salad better and prevent overpowering bites.
- Start light on the dressing. Add a small amount first, toss, and add more only if needed so the tomatoes stay fresh and balanced.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Yummy. This is wonderful. And so quick and easy to make
I so appreciate your recipes – – use them all the time. AND….. they are good!
I live alone, am 84 years old – enjoy cooking and again, thank you.
Always look forward to your new recipe posts.
I added some cubed cucumber. Delicious!!!
One of my favorites! I use some of your add on ideas when I have them.
So glad to hear you’re enjoying the tomato salad and making it your own with the add-on ideas! Fresh ingredients really do make all the difference. Keep experimenting and thanks for the love!
Light, fresh and oh so GOOD!
Love the salad and the dressing!
Excellent, thank you. I added chopped avocado and cucumber, served it over greens. It was perfect alongside my peas omelette and basmati rice. Thank you for all your wonderful mini recipes.
I make something similar only I use tomatoes, kalamata olives, capers, onions, basil, and bits of mozzarella
Thank you for your excellent recipes. You have been there for me through COVID. I enjoyed trying your Recipes for One. They were quick and easy and I looked forward to a different treat every day. Ingredients were easy to find in my cupboard so less running to the store during the pandemic. 😋
I’m so happy our recipes have been helpful to you, Marie. Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know.