Italian Tomato Salad

This Italian tomato salad celebrates the fresh, bold flavors of ripe tomatoes, fragrant basil, and a hint of garlic, all tossed in a light, tangy dressing. Perfect as an appetizer, side, or light meal!
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Italian tomato salad served in a large wooden bowl.
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Enjoy the best flavors of the Mediterranean—juicy vine-ripened tomatoes, savory brine-cured olives, and fresh basil—in this classic Italian tomato salad. It’s like a deconstructed bruschetta salad, or some may call it a bread salad. The red wine vinegar and extra virgin olive oil marries the flavors beautifully, and of course, no Italian dish would be complete without a hearty dose of bread!

We love recipes that use up ingredients that might otherwise be thrown away. This super-simple Italian tomato, olive, and bread salad is one of those perfect vegan salads, and it’s so delicious. Using those classic Mediterranean ingredients and some leftover bread (it’s okay if it’s getting hard!), you can prepare a super special salad you’ll keep on going back to.

Why You’ll Love This Salad

This salad brings a taste of Italy to your table with minimal ingredients and maximum flavor! Simple to make yet incredibly satisfying, it’s a refreshing way to enjoy peak-season produce. Here are more reasons you’re going to fall in love with this salad:

  • Easy to make – Ready in just 20 minutes with a handful of ingredients!
  • Zero-waste – Too often, our uneaten bread that gets hard is thrown away and is replaced with a new loaf. No more! Save that hard(ish) bread and make homemade croutons! They’re delicious in this salad—but you can also use these as a soup topping or for a vegan caesar salad!
  • Perfect for picnics – While this salad can be enjoyed year-round, nothing beats serving it up with fresh summer tomatoes for a picnic or BBQ.

What You’ll Need

This easy Italian recipe doesn’t call for much. However, you’ll want to make sure you use the freshest ingredients for the best possible flavor to help this salad shine! Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Ripe Tomatoes: Opt for ripe, flavorful tomatoes like heirlooms or vine-ripened tomatoes to bring out the best flavor. You’ll need about 3 medium tomatoes, diced. The juicier the tomato the better—this will contribute to the salad’s natural dressing.
  • Italian Bread: Choose a rustic, crusty Italian bread or a baguette for the best texture. Day-old bread works wonderfully, as it absorbs the dressing without getting too soggy. Cut the bread into bite-sized pieces (about 1 inch or smaller) for easy eating.
  • Olives: Kalamata olives add a briny, savory depth to the salad. Look for pitted, cured olives and slice them thinly for easy distribution of flavor throughout the salad.
  • Fresh Basil: Finely chopped basil adds a fresh, aromatic layer to the salad. Use fresh basil for the best flavor—dried won’t have the same impact here.
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil: High-quality extra virgin olive oil is ideal for a salad like this, where the oil’s flavor can shine. The richness of the olive oil complements the acidity of the tomatoes and vinegar perfectly.
  • Red Wine Vinegar: Red wine vinegar is classic but you can swap it for white wine vinegar or even balsamic vinegar if that’s all you have on hand.

How To Serve This Tomato Salad

This simple but super flavorful Italian tomato salad would be an ideal side dish for a light veggie soup. Soups are a great main, but sometimes they are just not enough. That’s when this salad comes to the rescue! Adding fresh veggies and some comforting crunchy bread will round up the perfect lunch.

Here are a few of our favorite vegan soups to pair with this tomato salad recipe.

This Italian tomato salad also pairs perfectly with other Italian favorites like spaghetti arrabbiata, easy lentil bolognese, or this vegan pesto pasta.

Italian tomato salad in a large wooden bowl with olives, fresh basil, and Italian bread.

Expert Tips

  • This salad is totally delicious as soon as it’s prepared, but for even more flavor, let it chill and marinate for a few hours.
  • Turn it into a full meal by adding roasted chickpeas on top. They will blend in perfectly and make this salad a main just with one more step!

FAQs

How to store leftover Italian tomato salad?

To store leftover Italian tomato salad, cover it tightly and refrigerate for up to two days. For the best results, store the bread separately if you plan to enjoy it later, as it can become soggy from the dressing. If the bread is already mixed in, the salad will still be delicious, though a bit softer. When ready to serve again, you can refresh the flavors with a little extra olive oil, vinegar, and fresh basil if needed.

What are the best tomatoes to use in a salad?

For the best flavor, use ripe, juicy tomatoes. Heirloom tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, or Roma tomatoes are all great options. Choose tomatoes that are in season for the sweetest and most flavorful salad.

If you make this Italian tomato salad recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know what you think in the comments below! I love reading your comments! 

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Easy Italian Tomato Salad

5 from 9 votes
Juicy fresh summer tomatoes are the stars of this classic Italian tomato salad (also called a bread salad). It's like bruschetta deconstructed! Flavorful ripe tomatoes, crisp bread cubes, and fresh basil add an appealing flourish.
Italian tomato salad served in a large wooden bowl.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 3 cups Italian bread chunks, bite-sized pieces (1 inch or smaller)
  • pounds ripe tomatoes, about 3 medium sized tomatoes (diced)
  • cup cured pitted olives, kalamata works great (sliced)
  • ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, very finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 300° F
  • Arrange the bread cubes on a baking sheet and bake until crisp and golden, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
  • Meanwhile, combine the tomatoes, olives, basil, oil, red wine vinegar, salt and black pepper in a serving bowl and toss together. Set aside to allow the flavors to meld and marinate.
  • Just before serving, stir in the bread cubes until well combined.

Video

Notes

Leftovers: Store any leftover Italian tomato salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one day. If possible, keep the bread separate to prevent it from becoming soggy. If the bread is already mixed in, the salad will still taste great but may soften slightly. Before serving, refresh the salad with a drizzle of olive oil, a splash of vinegar, and a few fresh basil leaves if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 250kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 333mg | Potassium: 461mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1540IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg
Course — Appetizer, Salad
Cuisine — Italian
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Italian tomato salad recipe and photos supplied by publisher with permission, 5-Ingredient Vegan by Nava Atlas, Sterling.

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5 from 9 votes

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Recipe Rating




9 comments
  1. 5 stars
    This is such a great recipe

  2. Beatriz Buono-Core says:

    5 stars
    This is such a simple but delicious recipe!

  3. Beatriz Buono-Core says:

    5 stars
    I love this super easy recipe! Yum!

  4. 5 stars
    This is such a great side to pasta, but is awesome anytime. Love how fresh and light this salad tastes!

  5. 5 stars
    Wow! What a yummy and vibrant salad!

  6. 5 stars
    I love how fresh and delicious this salad is on a warm day! The three textures of soft olives, chewy bread and juicy tomatoes is so perfect. You’ll be super surprised at how much you’ll love this – I was!

  7. 5 stars
    What a clever way to use up day old bread and make a colorful and amazing salad. The flavors just pop! This will become a favorite of ours.

  8. 5 stars
    I’m a big fan of vegan bruschetta, but never in a million years would have thought of turning it into a salad. BRILLIANT. Made this for lunch and it’s totally delish!

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