Serves 4 to 6

This simple and delicious salad was a standard on every farmhouse table during the summer months when the kitchen garden was in full production.  The addition of balsamic vinegar and fresh basal is a contemporary twist on a traditional theme.

2 to 3 large garden fresh tomatoes, cut into slices

1 large fresh cucumber, remove the peel in alternate stripes and slice thinly

1 medium size sweet purple onion, cut into thin rings

¼ cup chopped fresh basal leaves

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar

Olive oil

Coarse ground black pepper

Arrange the first four ingredients into a salad bowl.  Pour the vinegar over them and drizzle with olive oil to taste.  Season to taste with salt and fresh coarse ground black pepper. 

This salad is excellent in it’s basic simplicity.  It is also good as a starting point from which to expand.  Try it with the addition of capers, anchovies and different types of fresh herbs.  It is also a wonderful vehicle for showing off your tomato garden.  Do you plant tomatoes of different colors?  Do you plant various heirloom tomatoes.  Consider this salad made with a combination of red cherry tomatoes and yellow pear tomatoes.