Tomato salads - general principles and methods of cooking
Is it possible to imagine today that several centuries ago years ago our ancestors were afraid of this plant and even considered a tomato poisonous? Since then, more than 200 years have passed, and today we do not imagine any feast without this bright and juicy vegetable. Or a fruit? By the way, a moot point. The Supreme Court of the United States recognized in 1893, and unanimously, that when paying customs duties, tomatoes should be considered vegetables. But in the comments to this decision was recorded - from a botanical point of view, tomatoes are real fruits.
This confusion was not resolved, but consolidated by the European Union in 2001: he recognized tomatoes (fruits of tomatoes) ... as fruits. The secret is that, according to the EU rules, it is legal to export jams and jams only from fruits, so tomatoes equated to them make it possible to produce and sell delicious canned food abroad. In Russian botany, it is considered to be a vegetable as a vegetable, but for us it is not so important, the main thing is that you can make a lot of great salads from delicious and healthy tomatoes, which we will do with pleasure!
Tomato salads - food preparation
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 small grain of sand on the tooth, so we pay great attention to washing the food. In celery salad leaves, greens are separated from the roots, dark places are cleaned and soaked in cold water for at least an hour, washed, replacing the water. The green salad leaves are separated, washed in cold water several times, allowed to drain with a sieve, dried. Tomatoes pick ripe, but strong, sometimes slightly unripe. If it is necessary to peel off - the tomato is cut and scalded with boiling water - the skin is easily removed. Onions choose large and sweet. Excess bitterness can be removed by washing the rings in cold water and sprinkling with vinegar. Tomato Salads - Best Recipes
Recipe 1: Cucumber and Tomato Salad
Probably, this is the easiest thing you can think of among salads. It would seem - what could be simpler than cutting a couple of tomatoes and cucumbers, falling asleep with greens and ... But here the fun begins. Refueling!
There may be several options for filling, it all depends on which dish the salad is served to:
-sour cream;
-mayonnaise;
-altic with salt and vegetable oil;
- olive oil with lemon juice and mustard;
- yogurt + mayonnaise in equal quantities;
kefir with mashed garlic and salt.
In our case, for refueling, 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).
Method of preparation
We cut cucumbers and tomatoes into slices, finely chop lettuce. Refueling - to choose from. That's all! Easy to cook, easy to eat, easy to digest. Eat this salad at least every day, especially in summer - there is a lot of vitamins in it!
Recipe 2: Salad for the winter of tomatoes
Tomatoes play a dominant role in this vegetable salad. We choose strong slightly unripe fruits, prepare jars and lids for seaming, as well as a container in which it is convenient to sterilize our blanks.
Ingredients: Tomatoes (2 kg), sweet pepper (1 kg), carrots (500 g), onions (1.5 kg), parsley root (200 g), vinegar (300 g), pepper black peas (10 peas), salt, laurel lit, cloves, parsley.
Method of preparation
Tomatoes of medium size are cut into 6 - 8 parts. Pepper is cleared of seeds and cut into squares approximately 2x2, carrots and parsley root are cut into strips, cut into greens. All mix by adding vinegar and salt. Boil the vegetable oil separately for a few minutes, add spices, mix with vegetables. Put the salad in prepared jars, sterilize for 40 minutes and roll up. Enjoy this salad at any time, even when there is a blizzard outside, and the summer is still far away.
Recipe 3: Salad with chicken and tomatoes
Most impressively, this nourishing salad will look great in portion salads. Tomatoes - from the garden or greenhouse, fairly red in color, in this salad will be very tasty. Boil chicken breast, for smoked lovers, you can take a ready smoked breast, but then the salad will cease to be light.
Ingredients: Tomatoes (4 pieces), chicken fillet (400 gr), red onion (1 piece), green salad, mayonnaise (2 tablespoons) yogurt (2 tablespoons), celery (1 piece), salt.
Method of preparation
Boil the fillet in salted water, cool and chop finely. We cut onions and celery finely. And now attention! We cut the tomato into 8 parts, without cutting it to the end, spread it out - it should make an original flower with 8 petals. At the bottom of the salad bowl put the chopped lettuce, then the tomato, in the flower lay out the fillet, mixed with onions, celery, mayonnaise, yogurt and greens. Here is such a chicken tomato flower - beautiful and appetizing!
Recipe 4: Salad with Shrimps and Tomatoes
A light sweet and sour dressing with the aroma of garlic and greens and the delicate taste of shrimp, all against the backdrop of ripe red tomatoes! It is very tasty, beautiful and festive.
Ingredients: Peeled shrimps (100 g), tomatoes (2-3 pieces), 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).
Method of preparation
Marinade: mix half of parsley with finely chopped garlic, add honey, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, mix everything well - the dressing should be very pleasant.
Defreeze the shrimp and drain the liquid. We place them for 10-15 minutes in the marinade. Cut the tomatoes into slices. Put the tomatoes in a bowl, mix them with the shrimps, lightly salt and pepper, gently mix and pour the dressing. We spread in a beautiful salad bowl and decorate the remaining greens.
Recipe 5: Salad with mozzarella and tomatoes
Italians call this salad “Caprese”. Chic summer dish - 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, choose the best tomatoes - the best is “ladies finger” or “cow's heart”. And how miniature cherry tomatoes can look great in this salad!
Ingredients
Mozzarella cheese (400 gr), tomatoes (500 gr), basil, black pepper, olive oil, dill, parsley, lemon juice.
Cooking Method:
Largely cut the cheese into cubes. Tomatoes cut into neat slices. Mix chopped greens with lemon juice, season with spices and olive oil - pouring is ready. We spread the slices of tomatoes on a dish, alternating them evenly with mozzarella pieces, pour the dressing, decorate the middle and edges of the salad with greens.
Tomato salads - useful tips from experienced chefs
- You can remove seeds from overripe watery tomatoes when preparing a salad. It is better to cut them across the axis.
- The finished ingredients are best stored in the fridge, wrapped in a damp cloth, and put in a bag for storing food. Do not chop herbs in advance - they will turn black and lose taste.
- What kind of gas station to choose? It largely depends on the greens used. Parsley and dill are best combined with mayonnaise and sour cream, salad greens with vinegar-oil dressing, and lemon juice is best for celery.
