Fancy Tomato Salad
I love tomatoes this time of year. All they really need is a sprinkle of salt to bring out their sweetness. This recipe adds another element with the crunch of the pita chips and the za’atar seasoning. I made this salad for my family this week and it was a hit! Even when the pita chips start to get soft, they are still delicious.
Tips:
Instead of using store-bought pita chips, you can use the Sourdough Chips recipe and make your own.
Za’atar is a combination of ground dried thyme, oregano, marjoram, or some combination thereof, mixed with toasted sesame seeds, and salt, though other spices such as sumac might also be added. If you don’t have it, use any combination above.
Fancy Tomato Salad
Recipe inspired by Bon Appetit
Serves 6
PREP 10 minutes
COOK 2 minutes
INGREDIENTS
1½ lb. heirloom tomatoes (about 3 medium)
12 oz. mixed cherry tomatoes
1¾ tsp. kosher salt, divided plus more
1 lemon
½ garlic clove
6 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp. za’atar
2 cups pita chips
1½ tsp. (or more) honey
½ cup basil leaves
½ cup mint leaves
INSTRUCTIONS
Using a paring knife, core 1½ lb. heirloom tomatoes, then cut each into 8–12 wedges, depending on their size, using a very sharp chef knife or serrated knife (if your chef knife is dull, it's going to squish your precious tomatoes). Halve or quarter 12 oz. mixed cherry tomatoes (cutting them through their equators will reveal more seeds and make them even prettier).
Transfer tomatoes to a large bowl; season with 1¼ tsp. salt. That salt is going to draw out moisture from the tomatoes, which will intensify their flavor. Stir to gently combine (be careful with those delicate tomatoes!); set aside.
Zest ¼ lemon—you want about ½ tsp. zest (it’s easiest to measure if you hold the Microplane upside down so that the zest collects on top and you can scoop it into the measuring spoon). Grate ½ garlic clove. Set aside.
Heat 6 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil in a small saucepan or skillet over medium until just starting to shimmer, about 2 minutes. Add 2 Tbsp. za’atar and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and darker in color, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in reserved lemon zest and garlic. Wait 10 seconds, then remove from heat. (You're looking to cook off the raw flavor of the garlic without losing the brightness of the lemon.) Transfer za’atar oil to a heatproof measuring cup.
Place 2 cups pita chips in a medium bowl. Pour 2 Tbsp. za’atar oil over; season with salt. Mix well with a rubber spatula, aiming to coat chips without breaking them into too many pieces.
You should have about ¼ cup za’atar oil remaining. Squeeze 2 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. lemon juice (from about 1/2 lemon) into a small bowl. Add 1½ tsp. honey and ½ tsp. salt. Add za'atar oil, stirring constantly, until emulsified (meaning that you don’t see any beads of separated oil). Taste dressing and add more lemon, honey, or salt if needed.
Tear any large ½ cup basil leavesand ½ cup mint leaves and add to bowl. Drizzle about 3 Tbsp. dressing over and toss to gently combine.
Add pita chips to bowl (don’t leave leftover oil behind—scrape that in too) and fold gently to combine. Spoon salad onto platter, making sure to leave no juices behind. Drizzle with remaining za’atar oil.
Eat fast for crunchy chips or let sit for a crispy-gone-soggy experience.