Summer is the absolute best time to eat tomatoes and basil and I think I have a little bit of a food crush on them. This salad uses both; fresh tomatoes and a basil dressing which is both sweet and sharp. The addition of little soft and squishy bocconcini takes it to another level with the creamy chewiness of the cheese a perfect foil for the tomatoes and basil. On top of that, it takes all of five minutes to put together. Who wouldn’t love it, love it, love it?!!
Serves 4 – 6
400g mixed smallish tomatoes (try to get a variety of colours, there are heaps available in most supermarkets)
125g small bocconcini
About 1 cup of lightly packed basil leaves (1 really good handful)
1/3 cup good quality extra virgin olive oil
sea salt and black pepper
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
Slice the larger tomatoes in half, and leave little ones whole. Do the same with the bocconcini; tear some carefully in half and leave others whole. Blend together the basil, olive oil and white wine vinegar until it is a quite smooth and bright green dressing. (I use a small blender) Season with the salt and black pepper to your taste. Put a good tablespoonful of the dressing on a serving platter and use the back of your spoon to spread it evenly. Place the tomaotes and bocconcini on the platter and then spoon over the dressing. Grind over a little more black pepper and serve to your soon-to-be-wildly-enthusiastic lunch or dinner guests.
Simple food 
Lovely post, I’m feeling quite inspired to grow an array of colourful tomatoes next year now …
Oh do it! I love growing tomatoes because they are so much better than bought ones. I actually grow them over the winter because in the middle of summer it is too hot and humid and they don’t cope. So if you are growing them in the English summer, I’ll be growing them at the same time in Brisbane. Wild!
delicious!! looks so fresh and flavorsome! Love the pesto dressing 🙂
Thanks so much. Our basil is just going nuts at the moment so using it in lots of cooking!
YUM!! and beautiful, indeed!
Many thanks!