Whenever you can–always buy FRESH. August and September are THE months to experience the true flavor of tomatoes and this salad is the perfect end-of-the summer treat. I am a big fan of Bon Appetit Magazine. A few years ago I discovered this recipe in the magazine and have been serving it up ever since–never without praise. I make it with or without the garlic toasted bread and I typically serve it with a grilled rib eye steak. (See next week’s Grilled Rib Eye Recipe). You can find the original tomato salad recipe at Epicurous.com).
Tomato Blue Cheese Salad
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup grape tomatoes or halved cherry or pear tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped green onions
10 medium heirloom tomatoes of assorted colors, cored, thinly sliced
1 small red onion, sliced paper-thin
3 celery stalks, sliced thin on diagonal
1 1/2 cups coarsely crumbled blue cheese
Combine 1/3 cup oil, cherry or grape tomatoes, and green onions in medium bowl; toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Overlap tomato slices in concentric circles on platter, alternating colors. Scatter onion and celery slices over tomatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spoon tomato and green onion mixture over. Sprinkle with crumbled cheese.
