If we had to describe this salad in one word it would have to be: refreshing. It’s a simple combination of vibrant, flavorful ingredients that seem to epitomize summer on a plate. Not only is it a great appetizer to cool you off on a hot day, but it also offers incredible depth of flavor, color, and elegancy. This is all due to the oddly-shaped and robustly flavored heirloom tomatoes.

We have to make one note about heirloom tomatoes: they are not the cheapest of summer produce items. They can come with a higher price tag, but they are worth it, especially if you don’t buy them that often. Treat yourself, and your palate, to some heirloom tomatoes, which are not specific varieties, rather, the word “heirloom” refers to the history of the tomato. Heirloom tomatoes are the fruits of plants whose seeds were passed down from season to season for at least 40 years or more. How incredible is that? Unlike most tomatoes you see in grocery stores, heirloom tomatoes do not contain certain traits, genetically modified organisms, uniform color, or pesticides. That is why heirloom tomatoes come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

Heirloom tomatoes are incredibly juicy and they do not have a long shelf life. That means that you need to make this salad not long after you buy them. The acidity of the mild vinaigrette pairs beautifully with the inherent sweetness of the tomatoes and aromatic herbs. Remember, do not chop or dice the basil. You want to tear the leaves and fold them in with the rest of the ingredients. That helps them retain the richest flavor!