What Was Best Summer Salad
A vibrant salad celebrating peak-season produce, where the best ingredients speak for themselves without excess dressing. This Mediterranean-inspired salad recipe, ready in about 15 minutes, pairs mixed heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil, avocado into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 290 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 cups mixed heirloom tomatoes
- 1/4 cup fresh basil
- 1 avocado
- 1/2 cup cucumber
- 1/4 cup red onion
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Dice 2 cups heirloom tomatoes into 3/4-inch cubes, then gently toss with 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, 1 diced avocado, 1/2 cup diced cucumber, and 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion in a medium bowl.
- Step 2: Whisk together 1 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp olive oil, and 1/4 tsp sea salt until emulsified and slightly thickened.
- Step 3: Pour dressing over salad ingredients, using a fork to gently fold until evenly coated—avoid mashing the avocado.
- Step 4: Let sit for 5 minutes at room temperature to allow flavors to meld before serving.
