TOMATO SALAD WITH OLIVES + CORIANDER


It's that time of year..... juicy red tomatoes are everywhere! I cannot take a trip to Monterey Market without bringing home bushel of the beauties. Our go-to August tomato salad is the classic Caprese and we eat it a couple times a week. I'm not complaining, but it is also nice to try something new. With meaty heirlooms, sweet cherries, and endless varietals temping us in the late summer, we are always searching for tomato recipes to try in late summer.

Once again David Tanis is here to help out in my kitchen. His tomato salad with olives and coriander is respectful of rich flavor that tomatoes have to offer and his salad pays great tribute to the ingredient. Tomatoes are the well-deserved star of the recipe. Tanis's addition of green and black olives, as well as fresh cilantro leaves and toasted coriander seeds, is a refreshing twist on the tomato dishes we usually make. Paul oohed and awed and ate huge plates of the salad. I am happy to have yet another excuse to buy up more of those gorgeous tomatoes!

INGREDIENTS adapted from David Tanis' Heart of the Artichoke
(printable recipe)
  • 1/4 cup finely diced red onions or shallot
  • 1 clove garlic, smashed to a paste with a little salt
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • salt and pepper
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon coriander seed
  • pinch of cayenne
  • 2 pounds ripe tomatoes
  • 1/2 Picholine or other good green olives (not pitted)
  • 1/2 cup oil cured black olives (not pitted)
  • 1 cup cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
 

In a small bowl or cup, combine the onions, garlic, and vinegar. Drizzle in the olive oil, while whisking to emulsify dressing.

In a small skillet, toast the coriander seeds over medium-high heat.  After a few minutes, when you start to smell the coriander, remove the seeds from the pan. Using a mortar and pestle, or a spice grinder, grind the coriander and add to the dressing. Add the cayenne as well at this point.

Slice the tomato into thick pieces or wedges and transfer to a serving platter or bowl. Season with salt. Sprinkle the olives over the top. Drizzle on the dressing. And scatter the cilantro leaves over the salad. Add additional salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy!






29 comments:

  1. A gorgeous salad and combination! I love that first shot.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  2. Just. Simply. Beautiful. Sometimes the simplest healthiest dishes are the most stunning...

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  3. I have to say, that first tomato shot is just stunning. It's nice to change up the tomato goodness, you never think you need to, but there are so many things that love tomatoes. Not just basil!

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  4. Thanks Sarah! I do love the simple dishes. Why mess too much with a good ingredient?

    Julia, You're so right... basil is a tasty rut to be in, but I'm so happy to branch out once in a while;)

    -E

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  5. such gorgeous salad!

    love the colors and ingredients, it all works perfectly together.

    I will be trying this tomorrow night for dinner!

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  6. Wowie zowie, a whole cup of cilantro!! I would dive into, and then swim around in, that salad. And eat it, of course!

    I'm looking forward to visiting my parents, who have more tomato plants squeezed into their small suburban lot than any other I've ever seen. Being garden-less, I'm overjoyed at the prospect:)

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  7. M, thanks:) I hope you enjoy Tanis' salad. I love his attitude about food. Do you have his books? A good read, for sure.

    Emma! Your parents are so lucky... We don't get enough heat in our backyard to get many sweet tomatoes. I hope you have a good tomato fest, next visit:)

    -E

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  8. Love David Tanis' book. And can I just say that has to be the most beautiful photo of tomatoes I have ever seen? You should enlarge that and hang it on the wall. It's tomato art. ;)

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  9. No, I don't have his book, but I think I should get one...I'm in need of new recipes and judging by this one I would love it.

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  10. Oooo Erin, it looks so good! Love the first photo - it is an art. I do not have any David Tanis' book, now I need to go check it out!

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  11. Carolyn, That is so sweet of you to say! Big smile over here. Isn't Tanis great? Cannot wait to see what he does at the Times next year.

    M, I really think you'd like Tanis. I'm not sure which book I like better Platter of Figs or Heart of the Artichoke. I guess you cannot go wrong.

    Jenn, Thanks so much!:) Definitely check out Tanis, his writing is totally inspirational to me.

    -Erin

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  12. yum. try using green coriander minced and mixed in with your oil

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  13. Is that ever a beautiful salad and photo! Thank you...

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  14. This looks divine. I love tomatoes. Did you also know that eating a tomato 1/2 hour before going out in the sun helps you sunburn less? Read it not to long ago in a medical article.

    So eat your tomatoes and enjoy the sun!

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  15. Austin, I'll try the cilantro mixed in next time. Thanks!

    Jill :)

    Oli, What a cool health tip on tomatoes and sunburns! I wonder what the chemistry is behind that. Yet, another excuse for tomato eating in the summer!:)

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  16. This salad is sooooooooooooo delicious. I was proclaiming things like "awesome," "amazing," "gorgeous," after every bite.

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  17. What an absolutely gorgeous salad! I love the flavour combinations. I make something with similar flavours but slow roast the tomatoes and serve them with basil, feta and green olives.

    I absolutely love the first photo of the tomatoes on the vine. It's so beautiful.

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  18. I wish that last photo would jump out of the computer and onto my dinner table tonight. Sigh...if only.

    I've never combined olives and cilantro before -- looks MARVELOUS. Time for me to run to the market for more tomatoes!

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  19. p.s. You've inspired me to look into Tanis! Do you have a preference between Artichoke and Fig?

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  20. Your tomato photo is the money shot - beautiful! Love, love this salad! Since I have a "slight obsession" with cookbooks, I think I need to order this one. Have a great week!!

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  21. UstabahippieAugust 09, 2011

    Beautiful shot of the tomatoes! I wish I weren't allergic to more than 1/2 a tomato at one time. That looks delicious!

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  22. This salad looks gorgeous! I really love tomatoes and like you I come home with them just because they were sitting there so beautiful and fresh, especially when I see them so pretty on the vine like that. Now I have something new to try instead of bruschetta, which I also love.

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  23. P - :)

    Jennifer, Your roasted tomatoes dish with basil, feta,and green olives sounds so delish!

    Hey Allison, So far I think I'd recommend Figs over Artichoke, if I had to choose. I read Figs cover to cover and was so inspired!

    Lisa, Hope you enjoy Tanis!

    Ustabahippie, So sorry to hear you are allergic to tomatoes. Such a bummer!

    Jamie, Thanks! Bruchetta... now you're making me hungry:)

    -Erin

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  24. Wow this looks so so delicious.I love tomato salads when tomatoes are in season.. and I love olives year round

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  25. Hey Stephanie, I fully agree. Honestly, any recipe with olives temps me. Yum:)
    -E

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  26. Your pictures are as gorgeous as ever. I love how simple and honest this salad is. Pretty!

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  27. Such a simple and yest such a tasty way to enjoy some of those fresh tomatoes!

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  28. Thanks Adrianna and Kevin. I love the simplicity too! Here's to summer's bounty:)
    -E

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So good to hear from you... I appreciate each and every note you leave for me!

Thanks,
E