This simple Tomato Dill Salad is made with a handful of ingredients and is an easy way to use up fresh tomatoes and dill! Serve it as the perfect side dish or on a slice of toast with hummus or avocado for a summertime snack. This flavor combination is nostalgic for me because one of my core memories growing up is when my mom would make us tomato soup topped with dill! 😊 I hope you enjoy it.
As a dietitian, one of my favorite parts of summer is that it's tomato season here in Texas. And since my sister grows her own tomatoes and shares them with me AND I live near a farmer's market, I almost always have fresh tomatoes!
While I love using them to make a tomato avocado toast, Margherita flatbread, tomato red pepper soup, or cherry tomato pasta sauce, one of the easiest things I do with them is make this tomato dill salad. I like to have it as a side dish for a high protein breakfast bowl with scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, and berries in the morning, on toast, or in a bowl with oven baked chicken and smashed potato salad or bone broth rice. You can add cucumber and turn it into a cucumber tomato salad or avocado for some creaminess. Or keep it simple like me with just a few ingredients.
If you like this recipe, you may also enjoy my Chickpea Cucumber Tomato Salad, Greek Inspired Tomato Salad, Pesto Pasta Salad with Tomatoes, or Mediterranean Quinoa Salad.
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Key Ingredient Notes and Substitution Ideas
This recipe is made with simple ingredients. Below are some ingredient notes. Check the recipe card at the bottom for measurements.
- Tomatoes - juicy tomatoes are a key ingredient in this recipe and you'll be using raw tomatoes so choose a variety you like the taste of! I like to use either heirloom tomatoes, Campari tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes or smaller cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes. I personally don't suggest using roma tomatoes because they are a bit less sweet and juicy.
- Fresh Dill - add fresh dill for flavor and to provide some antioxidants. You can use dried dill if it's what you have. If using dried, use one third of the amount.
- Fresh Lemon Juice - a little squeeze of lemon juice adds citric acid which helps brighten the flavor and color of the avocado to give it that beautiful bright green hue. It also adds some vitamin C! If you prefer, substitute with lime juice instead.
- Balsamic Glaze - just a little bit of olive oil and drizzle of balsamic glaze take this tomato salad to the next level. I've done it with regular balsamic vinegar but I personally prefer the glaze because it's thicker and sweeter.
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper - a pinch of salt and pepper to tie everything together.
- Optional ingredients - some other ingredients I add if I'm feeling it are feta cheese, diced avocado, red onion, green onions, English cucumbers or persian cucumbers, or other fresh herbs like basil or mint.
How to Make Tomato Dill Salad
Below are the directions for how to make this salad. Check the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.
- Step 1: Dice the tomatoes into about 1 inch pieces. Chop the fresh dill.
- Step 2: Add the tomatoes, dill, fresh lemon juice, kosher salt and black pepper to a small bowl. Give it a mix and top with a squeeze of balsamic glaze.
Hint: you can use just the flesh of the tomatoes and leave out the juicy seeds but I personally like to add the whole tomato! The juice of the tomatoes blends in with the dressing ingredients and I think it's delicious. Plus, less food waste!
Dietitian Tip
Tomatoes contain powerful antioxidants called lycopene and they also provide vitamin C. Combining them with fresh herbs (like dill), lemon, and balsamic glaze is a simple way to add even more flavor and nutrition!
Variations
The best part about making a tomato dill salad at home is you can easily customize it to your taste. Below are some ideas.
- Tomato Cucumber Salad - for a crunchy element, add in fresh cucumbers. For a Greek inspired tomato salad with a red wine vinegar dressing, make my cucumber tomato feta salad with salty olives.
- Chickpea Tomato Cucumber Salad - for a more hearty option, make a chickpea salad using your tomatoes and dill.
- Avocado Tomato Salad - diced avocado is delicious with this combo and I often add it in because it's the perfect way to get in some healthy fats and fiber.
- Creamy Tomato Salad - if you like a creamy dill salad, use Greek yogurt or sour cream to add a creamy element.
Storage
- Refrigerator - store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Expert Tips
- A serrated knife is best for cutting the gentle skin of a tomato! Use a gentle sawing motion back and forth instead of trying to force through it.
- If you have a few extra minutes, slice your tomatoes and salt them first to draw out some moisture. Then blot them dry and dice them to add to the salad.
- Add some good extra virgin olive oil for healthy fats and to improve the flavor. I often leave it out because I serve this salad with hummus or avocado which are sources of healthy fats.
- Finely chop the dill so it distributes evenly.
- Give it a taste and add more lemon juice or salt as needed.
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, this tomato dill salad is a nutrient-rich option. It uses fresh tomatoes and dill which are in season at the same time in the summer months. Tomato provides important nutrients including powerful antioxidants and vitamin C. Fresh dill provides antioxidants as well. And the lemon juice provides vitamin C.
Honestly whatever you like best! I love using heirloom or beefsteak tomatoes for this but roma, cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes work too.
For sure! The next best choice would be basil which pairs great with tomatoes! Other options are cilantro, parsley, or even fresh mint. A combination of herbs is even better for summer salads if you ask me.
Related
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Perfect for Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Tomato Dill Salad:
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram. Your reviews help support me and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love. 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
Simple Tomato Dill Salad with Lemon, Balsamic Glaze
Equipment
- 1 serrated knife (recommended)
Ingredients
- 1 cup diced tomatoes (your favorite variety*)
- 2 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped (more to taste)
- 1 squeeze fresh lemon juice (about 1-2 tsp)
- 1 drizzle balsamic glaze (about ½-1 tsp)
- kosher salt & black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Dice the tomatoes into about 1 inch pieces. Chop the fresh dill.
- Add the tomatoes, dill, fresh lemon juice, kosher salt and black pepper to a small bowl. Give it a mix and top with a squeeze of balsamic glaze.
Notes
- A serrated knife is best for cutting the gentle skin of a tomato! Use a gentle sawing motion back and forth instead of trying to force through it.
- If you have a few extra minutes, slice your tomatoes and salt them first to draw out some moisture. Then blot them dry and dice them to add to the salad.
- Add some good extra virgin olive oil for healthy fats and to improve the flavor. I often leave it out because I serve this salad with hummus or avocado which are sources of healthy fats.
- Finely chop the dill so it distributes evenly. Give it a taste and add more lemon juice or salt as needed.
- Refrigerator - store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
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