Tomato salads - general principles and methods of preparation
Is it possible to imagine today that several centuries ago years ago our ancestors were afraid of this plant and even considered the tomato poisonous? More than 200 years have passed since then, and today we cannot imagine a single feast without this bright and juicy vegetable. Or fruit? Incidentally, the issue is debatable. As far back as 1893, the US Supreme Court recognized, unanimously, that when paying customs duties, tomatoes should be considered vegetables. But in the comments on this decision it was written - from a botanical point of view, tomatoes are real fruits.
He did not resolve this confusion, but reinforced the European Union in 2001: he recognized tomatoes (the fruits of tomatoes) ... fruits. The secret is that, according to EU rules, it is legal to export jams and jams only from fruits, therefore, tomatoes equated to them make it possible to produce and sell tasty canned products abroad. In Russian botany, a tomato is considered to be a vegetable, but for us this is not so important, most importantly - you can make a lot of delicious salads yourself from delicious and healthy tomatoes, which we will be happy to do!
Tomato salads - preparation of products
The taste and type of salad, of course, depends on the quality of the products and proper preparation. Nothing can spoil the dish like a little grain of sand that got on the tooth, so we pay great attention to washing products. At salad celery, greens are separated from the roots, dark places are cleaned and soaked in cold water for at least an hour, washed, changing water. The leaves are separated from the green salad, washed several times in cold water, the water is allowed to drain using a sieve, and dried. Tomatoes are picked ripe, but strong, sometimes slightly unripe. If it is necessary to peel - the tomato is cut and scalded with boiling water - the peel is easily removed. Onions choose large and sweet. Excessive bitterness can be removed by washing the ring in cold water and sprinkling with vinegar.
Tomato salads - the best recipes
Recipe 1: Cucumber and Tomato Salad
This is probably the simplest thing you can think of among salads. It would seem that what could be easier than chopping a couple of tomatoes and cucumbers, falling asleep with herbs and ... But here the fun begins. Refueling!
Refueling options can be several, it all depends on which dish the salad is served to:
-sour cream;
-mayonnaise;
- Acetus with salt and vegetable oil;
- olive oil with lemon juice and mustard;
- yogurt + mayonnaise in equal amounts;
kefir with mashed garlic and salt.
In our case, for refueling, we choose what is in the house.
Ingredients
4 tomatoes, 2 cucumbers, greens (green onions, dill, parsley, cilantro - all to choose from, at least 1 ingredient).
Cooking method
We cut cucumbers and tomatoes into slices, finely chop lettuce greens. Refueling - at choice. That's all! Easy to cook, easy to eat, easy to digest. Eat this salad at least every day, especially in the summer - it has tons of vitamins!
Recipe 2: Tomato Winter Salad
In this vegetable salad, tomatoes play a dominant role. We choose strong slightly ripened fruits, prepare cans and lids for seaming, as well as a container in which it is convenient to sterilize our workpieces.
Ingredients: Tomatoes (2 kg), sweet peppers (1 kg), carrots (500 gr), onions (1.5 kg), parsley root (200 gr), vinegar (300 gr), black peppercorns (10 peas), salt , bay leaves, cloves, parsley.
Cooking method
Tomatoes of medium size are cut into 6 - 8 parts. We clear the pepper from seeds and cut into squares about 2X2, carrots and parsley root, cut into strips, cut the greens. We mix everything by adding vinegar and salt. Boil vegetable oil separately for several minutes, add spices, mix with vegetables. We lay out the salad in prepared jars, sterilize for 40 minutes and roll up. Enjoy this salad at any time, even when the window is blizzard, and before the summer is still far away.
Recipe 3: Chicken and Tomato Salad
This hearty salad will look most spectacular in portioned salads. Tomatoes - from the garden or greenhouse, red enough, in this salad will be very tasty. Boil chicken breast, for lovers of smoked meats you can take ready smoked breast, but then the salad will cease to be light.
Ingredients: Tomatoes (4 pcs), chicken (400 g), red onion (1 pc), green salad, mayonnaise (2 tbsp.) Yogurt (2 tbsp.), Celery (1 pc.), Salt.
Cooking method
Boil the fillet in salted water, cool and finely chop. Finely chop the onion and celery. Now attention! We cut the tomato into 8 parts, without cutting it to the end, lay it out - the original flower with 8 petals should turn out. At the bottom of the salad bowl we place the chopped salad, then the tomato, put the fillet mixed with onions, celery, mayonnaise, yogurt and herbs inside the flower. Here's a chicken tomato flower - beautiful and mouth-watering!
Recipe 4: Shrimp and Tomato Salad
Light sweet and sour dressing with the aroma of garlic and herbs and the delicate taste of shrimp, and all this against a background of ripe red tomatoes! It is very tasty, beautiful and festive.
Ingredients: Peeled shrimp (100 g), tomatoes (2-3 pcs), garlic (2-3 cloves), vegetable oil (preferably olive), lemon juice, parsley, ground pepper, salt, a pinch of sugar (you can take half a spoonful of honey).
Cooking method
Marinade: mix half the parsley with finely chopped garlic, add honey, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, mix everything well - you should get a very tasty dressing.
Defrost the shrimp and drain the liquid. Put them for 10-15 minutes in the marinade. Cut the tomatoes into slices. We spread the tomatoes in a bowl, mix them with shrimps, slightly salt and pepper, mix gently and fill with dressing. We spread in a beautiful salad bowl and decorate with the remaining greens.
Recipe 5: Salad with Mozzarella and Tomatoes
Italians call this salad "Caprese". A chic summer dish is a great snack for any feast. It is very colorful, has an exquisite taste and, like all tomato salads, is easy to prepare. For this salad, we choose the best tomatoes - the best is a "lady's finger" or "cow's heart". And how wonderful miniature cherry can look in this salad!
Ingredients
Mozzarella cheese (400 gr), tomatoes (500 gr), basil, black pepper, olive oil, dill, parsley, lemon juice.
Cooking method:
Coarsely chop the cheese into cubes. We cut tomatoes in neat slices. Mix crushed greens with lemon juice, season with spices and olive oil - filling is ready. We spread the slices of tomatoes on the dish, evenly alternating them with slices of mozzarella, pour the dressing, decorate the middle and edges of the salad with greens.
Tomato salads - useful tips from experienced chefs
- For ripe watery tomatoes, when preparing a salad, you can remove the seeds. Cut them better across the axis.
- Ready-made ingredients are best stored in the refrigerator, wrapped in a damp cloth, and placed in a bag to store food. Do not cut grass in advance - they will turn black and lose their taste.
- Which gas station to choose? This largely depends on the greens used. Parsley and dill are best combined with mayonnaise and sour cream, salad greens with vinegar and oil dressing, and lemon juice is best for celery.
