The bold flavors of fresh tomatoes and peppers are a match made in heaven in this easy tomato and red pepper salad. It’s such a refreshing late-summer side dish, and the cumin adds a depth that can't be beaten.
If you have an abundance of homegrown tomatoes on hand, this is the salad for you! It’s mostly a tomato salad, but the mixture of fresh and roasted red peppers adds a hearty texture that’s really lovely. Throw together a simple lunch with a few slices of fresh mozzarella, or make it a complete meal with Croatian grilled chicken and French bread.
Why you’ll love this tomato red pepper salad
- Cool and refreshing - This salad can be eaten fresh or chilled and is delicious either way! The fresh tomatoes are extremely refreshing, especially on a hot summer day.
- It is so easy to make - There are no fancy steps or equipment here! Just slice all the veggies and stir everything together. Serve and enjoy!
- Lots of veggies - This is a great option if you need to add more veggies to your diet! The delicious seasonings and fresh flavors make it easy to add to any menu.
Ingredients
- Fresh tomatoes - This salad is great with heirloom or slicing tomatoes, but you can also slice grape or cherry tomatoes in half.
- Red bell pepper - Dice half a pepper for a bit of texture and extra flavor.
- Roasted red bell pepper - You just need 1 roasted bell pepper or a small jar of pimentos.
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Seasonings - Season with ground cumin, salt, and pepper to taste.
Variations
- Add vinegar - Drizzle some vinegar for extra flavor. I like white vinegar, but balsamic or red wine vinegar would work great, too.
- Use different colored peppers - The red-on-red color is so beautiful, but you can also use yellow, orange, or green bell peppers if you prefer.
- Add fresh herbs - This salad would taste wonderful with some diced parsley or fresh basil.
- Try sun-dried tomatoes - If you’re out of roasted red peppers or want a bolder tomato flavor, use sun-dried tomatoes instead.
- Crumble some cheese - This salad would be wonderful with fresh mozzarella or crumbled feta.
How to Make Tomato Red Pepper Salad
This recipe is adapted from Dorie Greenspan's Around My French Table cookbook.
- Toss all of the ingredients together and stir to combine.
- You can also add a tiny bit of white vinegar if you like.
Expert Tips
- Use the right tomatoes - If your tomatoes are underripe, they’ll be tart and firm. They’ll become soft, mushy, and gritty if they're overly ripe. Use perfectly ripe tomatoes and slice them with a serrated knife for the best results.
- Store in the fridge - It’s a good rule of thumb to store fresh tomatoes at room temperature, but they must be refrigerated after slicing. The texture will change slightly, but the flavors can come together nicely.
- Use freshly ground cumin - Cumin has a wonderfully aromatic scent and lifts this salad. For a fresh flavor, toast and grind your own cumin seeds.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! This tomato red pepper salad lasts well in the fridge for 1-2 days, so you can easily make it the day before. Cover it well and stir to reincorporate all ingredients before serving.
Fresh tomatoes and peppers can be seasoned in a variety of ways. This recipe uses cumin for a slightly Middle Eastern or North African flavor profile, but you could easily use Italian or Greek seasonings like basil, oregano, marjoram, and more.
The answer depends on the salad and your preferences. I prefer to dice the peppers slightly smaller than the tomatoes for this tomato and pepper salad. If you add peppers to fresh greens, you can dice them, slice them into rounds, or cut them into strips.
More Tomato Recipes
- Stuffed Tomatoes
- Sliced Tomato Salad
- Simple Sliced Tomato and Onion Salad
- Green Bean Tomato Salad
- Fried Green Tomatoes
Tomato Red Pepper Salad
Author: Recipe Idea Shop
Ingredients
- 20 grape tomatoes cut in half
- ½ red bell pepper diced
- 1 roasted red pepper diced, or a small jar of pimentos, drained
- 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 Pinch of ground cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste about ¼ teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper
Instructions
- Toss all of the ingredients together and stir to combine.
- You can also add a tiny bit of white vinegar if you like.
Notes
Kathy acquired the blog, Recipe Idea Shop in 2024. She was raised on a farm in Arkansas where having a big garden and good food to eat was the norm. She shares recipes for homemade comfort food and new trending dishes.
Kathy began her blogging journey in 2011 when she founded PetticoatJunktion.com, a home décor blog focused on repurposing and upcycling furniture, and thrift store finds.
