German Tomato Salad with Onions and Herbs

Name: German Tomato Salad with Onions and Herbs
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 2 lb ripe tomatoes, preferably beefsteak or heirloom, sliced 1/4 inch thick; 1 medium medium white onion, thinly sliced; 3 tbsp white wine vinegar; 3 tbsp neutral vegetable oil; 1 tsp kosher salt; 0.5 tsp freshly cracked black pepper; 2 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped; 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Classic German Tomatensalat — The Simplest Summer Side That Actually Tastes Like Tomatoes

Germans know that peak-season tomatoes need little more than sharp onions and good vinegar to shine. This straightforward salad lets the fruit speak for itself, with a brief rest time that marries all the flavors beautifully.

GermanSide DishSaladVegetarianVeganGluten FreeDairy FreeHealthyNo CookSummer

Prep15 min

Cook—

Total15 min

Servings4

Difficultyeasy

Nutrition

fat10g

carbs8g

protein2g

calories120

Ingredients

2 lbripe tomatoes, preferably beefsteak or heirloom, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 mediummedium white onion, thinly sliced
2 tbspfresh chives, finely chopped
2 tbspfresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

dressing

3 tbspwhite wine vinegar
3 tbspneutral vegetable oil
1 tspkosher salt
½ tspfreshly cracked black pepper

Instructions

Layer the tomato slices across your serving platter in gentle overlapping rows. Use your largest platter here — crowding the tomatoes will make them release too much juice and turn everything watery.
Distribute the onion slices evenly over the tomatoes, breaking up any rings that are still stuck together. The onions will mellow as they sit, so don't worry if they seem a bit sharp right now.
Combine the vinegar, oil, salt, and pepper in a small bowl, whisking until the salt dissolves completely. Taste and adjust — you want a good balance of tang and richness.
Drizzle the dressing evenly across the entire salad, making sure to hit all the tomatoes. Don't dump it in one spot or you'll get pockets of overdressed and underdressed sections.
Scatter both herbs over the top, concentrating them slightly on the centers of the tomato slices where they'll stick better. The green color makes this salad look as fresh as it tastes.
Give the salad exactly 15 minutes to rest at room temperature before serving. This waiting period lets the tomatoes release their juices into the dressing, creating the perfect balance of flavors.
⏱ 15 min