BASIL & TOMATO SALAD

If asked to name one taste that best describes Summer, we’d have to say it was the taste of a homegrown tomato. There are just not many foods that taste better. When the tomatoes are ripe and juicy we love to include them in every meal! We really like this tasty salad, brimming with sliced tomatoes and topped with a dressing that has a hint of zest and the bold flavor of fresh basil, also a great summer treat. You can make the dressing ahead of time so that it’s ready when you pick tomatoes.

Serves 6-8.

5 large, ripe homegrown tomatoes, sliced
1 small red onion, halved lengthwise, then sliced thin
Dressing, see recipe below
Crumbled Feta cheese
Minced parsley

Dressing:

2 large garlic cloves, peeled
¼ cup tomato sauce
⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons Fredericksburg Farms Brown Mustard Basil Bread Dipping Mix
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon Fredericksburg Farms Caliente Salsa
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Sea salt or kosher salt to taste, if needed

Arrange tomato slices slightly overlapping on a large platter or on individual salad plates. Scatter red onion slices over the tomatoes. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Prepare the dressing. With machine running, drop the peeled garlic cloves down the feed tube of food processor to mince. Stop machine and scrape down side of bowl. Add all remaining dressing ingredients except olive oil.  Process until smooth. With machine running, add the olive oil in a slow, steady stream through the feed tube until all has been added. Add salt, if needed. Process an additional 30 seconds to form a tight emulsion.

To serve, drizzle desired portion of dressing over the tomatoes, and then scatter some of the crumbled feta cheese and minced parsley over the top. Serve at once.