Easy Tomato, Red Onion, and Kalamata Olive Summer Salad

Feast Your Eyes!'s Note:

This refreshingly-light summer salad is my absolute favorite way to enjoy vine-ripened summer tomatoes. It's a quick and easy tummy-satisfying dish on a warm midday when the last thing I want to do is turn on the stove. The juicy tomatoes, sweet onions and rich-tasting Kalamatas are dressed simply with olive oil, red wine vinegar, fresh herbs, salt and pepper. If desired, add whatever other garden veggies you enjoy - our family loves cucumbers; or add a slice of feta and some sliced green peppers and you've got a Greek “village” salad! Don't forget the crusty Italian bread to mop up the tomato and vinaigrette juices.

• Total Time: 45 mins
• Prep Time: 45 mins
• Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced and separated into rings
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 1/2 ounces capers, drained
• 2 teaspoons chives, snipped
• coarse salt (Kosher or Sea salt)
• fresh ground black pepper
• 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 6 -8 vine-ripened tomatoes, cored and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
• 1 cup kalamata olive, pitted
• 5 ounces cheese (crumbled blue cheese OR curls of Romano cheese made with a vegetable peeler)
• 1/3 cup mixed fresh herbs, minced (basil, flat-leaf parsley, tarragon, and mint)
• crushed red pepper flakes (to taste) (optional)

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl combine 4 cups of ice cold water and 2 teaspoons salt; stir to dissolve the salt. Add the onion rings; let stand for 20 minutes. Drain and pat dry with paper towels.
2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk together the vinegar, lemon juice, lemon zest, honey, garlic, capers, chives, and salt and pepper to taste. Add the oil in a stream, whisking; whisk the vinaigrette until it is emulsified.
3. On a chilled deep serving platter, alternate the tomato slices and onion rings, scatter the Kalamatas over them. Drizzle 1/3 - 1/2 cup of the vinaigrette over the salad, reserve the remaining vinaigrette.
4. Chill salad for 20 minutes. Sprinkle over the top your choice of cheese, the minced herbs, and the red pepper flakes (optional). Drizzle 2 or 3 tablespoons of the reserved vinaigrette over the cheese and herbs. (Any leftover vinaigrette can be refrigerated and used within 1 week.)
5. Let salad stand for a minimum of 15 - 20 minutes before serving.
6. COOK'S TIP: Because the longer you let the flavors "marry", the better this salad tastes, I like to prepare it early in the morning for a lunchtime snack or light meal.
7. COOK'S TIP: This quick and delicious salad makes a terriffic filling for pita bread or baguette sandwiches, and a yummy topping for bruschetta.
8. Buon appetito!