#Kitchen #Recipe and #HealthyFood: Alyssa Rivers September 15

Showcase fresh tomatoes with this light and refreshing tomato basil salad! It’s tossed with aromatic herbs, olive oil, and vinegar for a fresh, bright flavor that is hard to resist!

The flavor of the tomato can easily be enhanced with the simplest of ingredients! Whether they are grilled with a vinaigrette, served with mozzarella, or roasted with garlic and parmesan, I know you will adore how they turn out!

Fresh Tomato Basil Salad Recipe

Sometimes I feel like my body needs a break from heavy salads. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love a good caesar salad like the next guy- but sometimes I wish the amazing natural flavors of the veggies were put in the spotlight! That is why, my friends, I am here to show you one of the most amazing salad recipes on my blog to date. Don’t let the lack of variety scare you! The simple pairing of chopped tomatoes and a flavorful vinaigrette is absolutely mouthwatering. Even if you aren’t a huge tomato lover, I would definitely recommend you give this a try. The light flavor of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, fresh basil, and cracked salt and pepper makes each bite a dream. You’ll love the flavor!

This is the perfect salad to throw together in a pinch. If you have tomatoes on hand, chances are you have the rest of the ingredients to make it! Despite being so easy to make, it has big, gourmet flavor! Aside from eating it as-is, you can top it on crostini and bruschetta! It’s so versatile. It’s also packed with countless nutritional benefits. Fresh tomatoes are loaded with antioxidants, potassium, and vitamins. Then you get your healthy fats from the olive oil! The vinaigrette is also low-calorie so it’s a salad that tastes good but also makes you feel good! Even the picky eaters in my family have liked this which is saying something. It always gets devoured. I’m positive it will have the same result at your house!

Let’s get started!

Everything You Need for This Salad

Tomato basil salad is honestly one of my favorite salads. I love how the natural flavor of tomato shines through. Then, the light flavor of olive oil combined with zippy balsamic vinegar is a perfect addition! Each bite is so juicy and flavorful. My tip here would be to make sure you have the freshest tomatoes possible! That’s going to help it turn out the best. As always, all measurements can be found in the recipe card below.

Roma Tomatoes: I like to use large roma tomatoes, sliced into bite-sized pieces. I like using the roma variety for their fresh and tangy flavor.
Basil: Fresh basil will give you the best flavor. I like to cut it into thin strips! This is going to give your salad a slightly minty, peppery, aromatic finish. You’ll love it!
Flaky Salt: I like using flaky salt to sprinkle on top. It helps enhance the overall flavor and also gives it a bit of texture! Salt also helps pull juices from vegetables to tenderize your tomatoes.
Cracked Pepper: Adding a little fresh cracked pepper makes all the difference in the overall flavor of your salad! It’s perfectly warm, aromatic and will make each bite a treat.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: This type of olive oil is loaded with antioxidants and has a richer flavor than normal olive oil. The moisture and flavor it helps to add to the salad is fantastic!
Balsamic Vinegar: Balsamic vinegar adds the perfect tang to your tomato basil salad.

How to Make the Best Tomato Basil Salad

This recipe is as basic as it gets. It requires almost no effort and puts more time back into your day! In less than 10 minutes, you have a salad filled with flavor, ready to eat!

Toss Tomatoes with Vinaigrette: Let’s make some tasty salad! To begin, in a medium bowl toss the tomatoes, basil, salt, pepper, olive oil and balsamic vinegar together. Try a small amount and add more salt and pepper to taste if needed.
Let Salad Rest: Allow the salad to sit for 10-15 minutes to marinate together.
Serve: To finish, serve on top of crostini, pasta, chicken, lettuce or pita chips.

Bowls of chopped tomatoes and vinaigrette ingredients.

Tips for Making The Best Tomato Basil Salad

Tomato basil salad is really one of the most refreshing salads to make. And it can be used in so many ways! It’s bright, tasty, and incredibly easy! It’s sure to be a hit wherever it’s served.

Fresh Tomatoes: This recipe shines when you’ve got wonderfully ripe tomatoes. If you can get them, I recommend using Roma tomatoes fresh from the garden or farmer’s market. Heirloom variety tomatoes are also a great substitute.
Thinly Sliced Basil: For this recipe I like to roll the basil leaves the long way and use a very sharp knife to slice thin ribbons. This is also known as chiffonade. Using a very sharp knife will prevent the basil from being bruised and will keep it nice and green.
Use High Quality Oil: Using a high quality extra virgin olive oil will give your salad a more bold, fruity olive oil flavor that just sings with tomatoes and basil.
Let It Sit: Allowing your salad to sit for a short while before serving makes it nice and juicy. The salt pulls moisture from the tomatoes and helps marinate everything together. After you’ve enjoyed your salad with your chosen vessel, try dipping some crusty bread in the leftover juices. It might be my favorite part of this recipe!

Tomato Basil Salad Pairings

This salad has a lot of classic Italian flavors, so it tastes great alongside pasta! You could make this a complete meal by serving your salad with breadsticks and soup, a protein of your choice, pasta, and then either bruschetta or crostini. You can add your tomato basil salad to bruschetta for a mouthwatering combination of juicy tomato and crispy bread!

Soup Recipes

Classic Italian Wedding Soup

Dinner

Baked Caprese Chicken

Dinner

Cacio e Pepe

Side Dishes

Easy Homemade Garlic Knots

Storing Your Tomato Basil Salad

Because this recipe uses fresh ingredients, the shelf life is quite short. If you somehow don’t devour the entire recipe when you serve it, go ahead and store it for up to two days in the fridge.

In The Refrigerator: Store the leftover salad in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 days. You can make it ahead of time by 1 day, but if you do this you should only keep it for up to 24 hours after serving.

Tomato Basil Salad

Showcase fresh tomatoes with this light and refreshing tomato basil salad! It's tossed with aromatic herbs, olive oil, and vinegar for a fresh, bright flavor that is hard to resist!

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Keyword tomato basil salad

Prep Time 8 minutes

Total Time 8 minutes

Servings Cups

Calories 154kcal

Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

5-6 large Roma Tomatoes diced
2 Tablespoons Fresh Basil Sliced Thin
1 Teaspoon Flaky Salt
½ Teaspoon Fresh Cracked Pepper
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Teaspoon Balsamic Vinegar

Instructions

In a medium bowl toss the tomatoes, basil, salt, pepper, olive oil and balsamic vinegar together. Taste a small amount and add more salt and pepper if needed.
Allow the salad to sit for 10-15 minutes to marinate together.
Serve on top of crostini, pasta, chicken, lettuce or pita chips.

Nutrition

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Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken is a simple saucy, sweet and tangy chicken served over tender long grain rice that truly satisfies. The aroma that will fill your kitchen will make your mouth water all day, the hardest part of this will be waiting till it’s done. It’s so simple and so flavorful, it’ll become a standard in your recipe rotation.

Serve this with a Creamy Poppy seed Fruit Salad and some Egg Rolls for the perfect family dinner on busy weeknight. This will bring the family running to the table.

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken

Teriyaki is one of the most favorites of the Asian flavors around. The combination of garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sugar and vinegar is like magic. Teriyaki sauce makes everything taste better. From Shrimp to veggies to steak. It just goes with so many things.

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken is rich and flavorful and so easy to throw together. Slow Cooker meals are a favorite go to when life gets busy and this will be a winner. Tender chicken is drenched a thick sweet sauce with minimal preparation but will taste like you slaved all day. This is so good!

Teriyaki Chicken Ingredients:

Simple ingredients come together quickly for the perfect meal.

Chicken Thighs: Save time by buying boneless skinless chicken thighs. Otherwise you’ll want to de-bone and skin your chicken thighs.
Sugar: Balances out the soy sauce to make the perfect sauce.
Soy Sauce: You can use low sodium soy sauce if you’d like.
Cider Vinegar: Adds zing and tenderizes the chicken.
Ground Ginger: Makes the sauce sing.
Minced Garlic: You can use jarred minced garlic.
Pepper: Try using fresh ground pepper for the best flavor.
Cornstarch: Thickens the sauce.
Cold Water: needed to dissolve the cornstarch
Rice: Long grain brown or white rice is best.

How to Make Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken:

Using the Slow cooker makes every thing easier. Just a few simple steps is all you need to impress.

Place: Put the chicken in the slow cooker.
Mix: In a large bowl mix the sugar, soy sauce, cider vinegar, ginger, garlic and pepper. Pour it over the chicken.
Cook: Cook on low for 4-5 hours till chicken is tender.
Remove: When the chicken is done remove and shred on a platter and keep warm.
Sauce: Skim the fat from the cooking liquid. Place the liquid in a pot and bring to a boil. Mix the cold water and cornstarch together in a small bowl. Slowly add to the sauce and stir till thickened.

Making Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken with sauce.

Teriyaki Tips and Variations:

You will love how versatile this recipe is, it’ll be everyone’s favorite.

Chicken: The recipe calls for boneless skinless chicken thighs, but chicken breasts can easily be used and will be super tender and flavorful.
Trim the Fat: Which ever kind of chicken you use, you’ll want to trim off any excess fat.
Honey: If you’re looking for a sugar substitute try honey. It’s sweeter than sugar so you can use less. It will add a nice deep richness to the sauce. Try using 2/3 cup honey instead of the sugar.
Sauce: If your sauce seems too thin even after adding the cornstarch. Mix another 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with 2 teaspoons of cold water and add. Continue to add the cornstarch slurry till you get the thickness you desire. It will thicken as it cools.
Flavor: If you want to intensify the flavor use fresh garlic and fresh grated ginger for a deep rich flavor.

Serving and Storing Teriyaki Chicken:

Slow cooker chicken is so easy and so versatile, you’ll love having some leftovers.

Double: This is an easy recipe to double and save half for later. Leftovers often taste better anyway as flavors continue to meld together.
Variations: Besides rice you can try serving it over quinoa. Roast or steam vegetables and turn the meal into a stir fry or a rice bowl. Use the chicken in sandwiches or to top a Teriyaki Chicken salad.
Store: Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days and in the freezer for up to 3-4 months.

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken in sauce in Crockpot.

More Tempting Teriyaki Recipes:

Teriyaki is such a tantalizing flavor, try these other great recipes with this amazing taste.

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken is a simple saucy, sweet and tangy chicken served over tender long grain rice that truly satisfies. The aroma that will fill your kitchen will make your mouth water all day, the hardest part of this will be waiting till it's done. It's so simple and so flavorful, it'll become a standard in your recipe rotation.

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine Asian American, Chinese

Keyword slow cooker treiyaki chicken, teriyaki chicken

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes

Servings people

Calories 394kcal

Author Alyssa Rivers