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Easy Fresh Marinated Cherry Tomato Salad with Basil and Feta Recipe

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This fresh marinated cherry tomato salad with basil and feta is a quick, crowd-pleasing side dish that comes together in minutes. Let the flavors mingle for at least 30 minutes to create an incredible dressing that everyone will love.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pints (about 600g) cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup (about 20g) fresh basil leaves, torn or roughly chopped
  • 1 cup (about 150g) feta cheese, crumbled
  • 1/3 cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) red wine vinegar
  • 1 small clove garlic, minced (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon (3g) flaky sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon (1g) freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) balsamic glaze for drizzling (optional)
  • 1/4 cup (30g) toasted pine nuts for crunch (optional)

Instructions

  1. Rinse the cherry tomatoes under cool water and pat them dry. Halve each tomato through the equator (not from stem to blossom end) and place in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Stack the basil leaves, roll them up like a cigar, and slice into thin ribbons, or simply tear them into small pieces. Add to the bowl with the tomatoes.
  3. If using a block of feta, pat it dry and crumble it into the bowl using your fingers. If using pre-crumbled feta, just dump it in.
  4. In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic (if using), salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust as needed.
  5. Pour the dressing over the tomato mixture. Gently fold everything together with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula, being careful not to break up the tomatoes too much.
  6. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to 2 hours. This allows the flavors to meld and the tomatoes to release their juices.
  7. After resting, taste the salad and adjust seasoning if needed (more salt, vinegar, or olive oil).
  8. Transfer to a serving bowl or platter. If using balsamic glaze or toasted pine nuts, drizzle or sprinkle on top right before serving. Serve at room temperature.

Notes

For best flavor, use room temperature tomatoes and feta. Don’t overdress with olive oil. If making more than 2 hours ahead, add basil just before serving to prevent it from turning dark. Leftover marinade is great drizzled over grilled vegetables or crusty bread.

Nutrition

Keywords: cherry tomato salad, marinated tomato salad, basil feta salad, easy summer salad, no-cook salad, block party recipe, crowd-pleaser

Find it online: https://emmastirs.com/easy-fresh-marinated-cherry-tomato-salad-with-basil-and-feta-recipe/