Kick Your Tomato Salad Into High Gear With This Simple Herby Mixture

Tomato salad doesn't always have to be the afterthought of your summer feast. That's a waste of potential for something built on a sun-ripened, flavor-bursting, and endlessly adaptable fruit such as the tomato. Know exactly what to add, and you can take it to the next level. All it takes is a spoonful of gremolata to make this happen. Most tomato salads rely on vinegar for flavor dimension, but yours? Yours has layers of herbaceous aroma mixed with the tangy freshness of tomatoes, perfectly encapsulating the fresh, vibrant essence of a summer garden.

The best gremolata is often made strictly by hand, with the ingredients all finely diced, chopped, and mixed together. It typically consists of three things only: garlic, lemon zest, and parsley. This Italian condiment is a close friend to many grilled and roasted dishes, all thanks to its ability to uplift heavier flavor tones with exquisite aromas.

Upon joining your tomato salad, gremolata has a way of adding depth without weighing down the dish. The parsley base is crisply grassy and earthy, just the bright flavors you need to bring out the tomatoes' freshness. Tiny bits of raw garlic add a pungent kick that holds your attention, and of course, it's the lemon zest that seals the deal. Who doesn't love sparks of zingy citrus popping up every now and then in their salad?

You don't typically need much with tomato salads — just fresh tomatoes, a vinegar-based dressing, and leafy greens or fresh herbs of choice. Scatter the gremolata over these ingredients, and a simple toss should have it evenly coat everything in no time. If you're putting together a Caprese-style salad, you can also try layering it between the slices of fresh tomato, basil leaves, and mozzarella cheese.

Other forms of tomato salads, such as a pasta salad rendition, also work with gremolata. A few spoonfuls, drizzled over a plate of roasted tomatoes, arugula, and cheese such as halloumi, ricotta, burrata, or feta, can make for quite a restaurant-worthy side dish. You might even like it simply as a side for hearty proteins, where it does a marvelous job of cleansing the palate and offsetting heavier flavors.

There are many ways to customize gremolata, so, other than uplifting various tomato salads, it can also be a gateway to even more flavor versatility. Chili pepper flakes and jalapeños, for example, are excellent for a subtle kick of heat. Other aromatic herbs, such as mint, basil, rosemary, and cilantro, can all chime in on the herbaceous melody. The sweetness comes in little bursts with dried cranberries and figs — undoubtedly making gremolata the star of your tomato salad.