TheKitchn.com
Why You’ll Love It
It’s light and bright. Rather than a more traditional dressing emulsified with mustard, the dressing in this recipe uses just a small amount of honey to hold it together. This keeps the salad from becoming heavy and the bright flavor from becoming muted.
The cherry tomatoes are the star. All the components in the salad work around the tomatoes to ensure they shine. Moreover, the tomato’s juices blend with the dressing, carrying their flavor through every bite.
Key Ingredients
Cherry tomatoes: Take care to use the best cherry tomatoes you can get your hands on. Their sweetness, in contrast with the zippy dressing, is what makes the salad so delicious.
Mozzarella pearls: These little, bite-size balls of cheese are not only fun to eat but are also similar in size to the halved tomatoes, ensuring that you get the perfect ratio of ingredients in every bite.
Red onion: Provides texture and a slight sharpness that’s much welcome against the sweet tomatoes and milky cheese.
Fresh basil: Classically paired with tomatoes, its sweet herbaceousness rounds out the salad.
Garlic: A little goes a long way here because it’s grated. If you prefer something milder, you can either use a smaller clove or mince the garlic.
Red wine vinegar: Less sweet than balsamic, red wine vinegar’s acidity brings out more of the tomato’s sweetness without competing too much.
Lemon juice: In combination with the vinegar, it gives the salad the bright kick it needs without becoming too acidic.
Helpful Swaps
Grape tomatoes work in a pinch and taste delicious here.
Shallot can be swapped for the red onion.
Cubed, fresh mozzarella can be used in place of mozzarella pearls.
Storage and Make-ahead Tips
The dressing can be made one day ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container. Shake or rewhisk before using.
Leftover salad can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to two days. The basil will wilt and the tomatoes will release more of their juices the longer it sits.
