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Summer has officially begun. Both kids are out of school and if it wasn’t for my wife’s love of scheduling and structure, I think I might have ended up a little crazy by the time September comes.

Balsamic and mozzarella heirloom tomato salad.

Sometimes the kids being at home can be a benefit though, like being my model for the picture below (how cute can freckles and a sunburned nose get?) and having them help me pick some fruit from our tree for this rad and easy salad. Kid help comes at a price with the wages being paid in cotton balls. Each one is worth a quarter and the mason jar is filling up fast.

I must hold up my hands and confess though, the inspiration for this salad came from a recent trip to my local Whole Foods. After tasting a sample of a similar salad, I knew I had to recreate it and after a few ingredient switch-outs this was the end result.

Juicy heirloom tomatoes perfect for my heirloom tomato salad.

Juicy ripe nectaplums and buckled Heirloom tomatoes are the base for this salad. Along with some mini mozzarella balls, red onion and purple basil, everything is tossed in a balsamic and olive oil dressing. I’m all over sweet and savory fruit salads in the summer because sometimes green leaves can become a little old-school after a while. Let’s back up and talk nectaplums. A cross-breed between the nectarine and a plum thats juicy and deep red this fruit produces like crazy every year for me from our tree.

Heirloom tomatoes are always fun to use because of the weird shapes you can find, but once you taste a regular tomato against an heirloom you’ll notice the difference right off the bat. If you make this salad, replacing the purple basil for everyday green shouldn’t be an issue, and if you can’t find nectaplums use peaches but try and stick to the heirloom tomato because of that awesome flavor!

Balsamic and mozzarella salad make this heirloom tomato salad.

More heirloom tomato salads!

101 Cookbooks- Heirloom Tomato Salad

Weelicious- Fresh Heirloom Salad

Love and Olive Oil- Warm Gnocchi and Heirloom Salad

 

Balsamic and mozzarella salad with heirloom tomatoes.

Mozzarella and Heirloom Tomato Salad

Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 120kcal
Author: foodnessgracious
A super-fresh tasting salad made with heirloom tomatoes and juicy nectaplum stone fruit. Mozzarella balls and a balsamic dressing complete this easy and healthy salad!
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Ingredients

  • For The Dressing!
  • 6 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves
  • For The Salad!
  • 2 1/2- 3 cups sliced wedges of nectaplums
  • 8 ounce mini fresh mozzarella balls
  • 1/2 red onion thinly sliced
  • 1 pound mixed heirloom tomatoes
  • 1/3 cup fresh purple basil
  • Sea salt and cracked black pepper

Instructions

  • Place the olive oil, balsamic and dried basil into a jar with a lid and shake until well mixed. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl add the nectaplum slices, mozzarella and red onion.
  • Slice the tomatoes into wedges taking out the middle part with a sharp knife leaving the outer wall and discarding the seeds.
  • Roughly chop the basil and add to the bowl along with the tomatoes.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently making sure everything is well coated.
  • Taste and season again of you think it needs it.
  • Garnish with more fresh basil and serve on a platter.

Nutrition

Calories: 120kcal