This Tomato Garlic Salad with juicy vine-ripened tomatoes and creamy dressing is the ideal addition to your summer dinner table. It’s perfectly refreshing!
If you love delicious salads, then you should enjoy this simple Tri-Color Pasta Salad and Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad.
Table Of Contents
Recipe Details
I just adore this Tomato Garlic Salad in summer. It’s light and refreshing, especially on really hot days.
- TASTE: This salad is rich and tangy with juicy, sweet tomatoes and pungent garlic. The fresh dill finishes it off with amazing flavor.
- TEXTURE: This Tomato Garlic Salad has a super creamy dressing. Even the garlic is pressed so it’s nice and smooth.
- TIME: It will only take 15 minutes to make.
- EASE: This salad is exceptionally easy and has very few ingredients, most of which you probably already have at home.
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Tomatoes- I used beefsteak tomatoes because of their size and how they hold their shape after cutting. But you can make this with other varieties, like Roma or cherry tomatoes. Just look for firm, ripe ones.
- Garlic- Fresh garlic is the way to go here so you can press it, keeping it to a fine paste. Minced garlic in a jar will give you larger chunks, so use fresh cloves.
- Sour cream and Mayonnaise- These two are the base of your creamy dressing. Use any type you like, but full-fat will give you the richest and creamiest results.
- Dill- Fresh dill adds an earthy, herbaceous flavor to this Tomato Garlic Salad that can’t be beat. Don’t skip it and try to use fresh herbs over dried for the best taste.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Make it lighter- This rich and creamy salad can be lightened up a little with low-fat sour cream or mayo. You can also substitute plain Greek yogurt for a healthier option.
- Substitute other herbs- Fresh basil, cilantro, parsley, chives, and oregano are all great herbs to add to this salad for a flavor boost.
- Add more vegetables- Because this Tomato Garlic Salad is so versatile, other veggies work great with it. Try it with cucumbers, zucchini, carrots, bell pepper, and red onion.
- Use a different dressing- Tweak this recipe by using another dressing, such as this Greek Salad Dressing, Buttermilk Ranch Dressing, or Easy Cilantro Lime Dressing. Balsamic and red wine vinegar are great, too.
How to Make Tomato Garlic Salad
- Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, and pressed garlic.
- Add the tomatoes. Cut the tomatoes into large chunks and combine them with the dressing and chopped dill.
- Season and serve. Sprinkle salt and black pepper over the salad to your liking and mix it in gently. Serve chilled.
Pro Tip: Be gentle once you mix the tomatoes in because they are easily squished, leaking juices into the salad and making it soggy.
Recipe Tips
- Press the garlic- Doing this with a fresh clove basically makes a garlic paste, which can easily be mixed into the dressing without chunks. Minced garlic will not do the same.
- Cut the tomatoes uniformly- Try to keep the tomato pieces to a uniform size and on the larger side. If you chop them too small, they’ll be easily pulverized. Use tomatoes that are a little firm.
- Mix gently- Because fresh tomatoes are juicy and delicate, mix gently either with your hands or wooden spoons to avoid releasing too much juice into the salad.
- Serve immediately- Salt draws out moisture, so once it’s been added, your Tomato Garlic Salad will begin to release water. So serve chilled soon after making it for the best presentation and flavor.
FAQs
Tomatoes are really versatile, so you can combine them with lots of other vegetables, herbs, cheese, and spices. This Tomato Garlic Salad is made with garlic, fresh dill, and a creamy mayonnaise dressing with the chopped tomatoes. You can also use balsamic vinegar, onions, cucumbers, feta cheese, oregano, and basil, among many other flavors.
Combine mayonnaise with a tangy element, such as sour cream or Greek yogurt, and spices and herbs. In this Tomato Garlic Salad, the mayo and sour cream are whisked together with pressed garlic and topped with fresh dill, salt, and pepper.
Serving Suggestions
Since this Tomato Garlic Salad is so versatile, you can serve it with any number of dishes. Enjoy it with all your barbecue favorites at your next summer party.
- Meats: Make it a full meal with some Juicy Grilled Chicken Kabobs, Cast Iron Ribeye Steak, Cedar Plank Salmon, or Smoked Chicken Breast.
- Salad: Serve it alongside other salads at a get-together, like this Best Broccoli Cranberry Salad, Cabbage Cucumber Salad, or Antipasto Salad.
- Sides: Enjoy this Tomato Garlic Salad with other side dishes, such as Parmesan Roasted Potatoes, Air Fryer Zucchini, or Mushroom Puff Pastry Appetizers.
- Cold Pasta: This salad would be really refreshing with a cold pasta dish, like Pesto Pasta Salad (VIDEO), Tri Color Pasta Salad Recipe (VIDEO), or BLT Pasta Salad.
Make This Recipe in Advance
Make ahead: You can make this salad ahead of time, but the tomatoes will release juices into the salad, thinning the dressing. Stir gently before serving.
Storing: Store this Tomato Garlic Salad in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week. But for best results, serve it within a day or two of preparation.
Freeze: Unfortunately, this tomato salad isn’t the best for freezing as the ingredients will thaw mushy and grainy.
More Tasty Salads!
This recipe was originally posted June 21, 2016, we’ve tweaked it a bit since then. This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here
Full Recipe Instructions
Tomato Garlic Salad
Ingredients
- 5-6 beefsteak tomatoes
- 2 garlic cloves grated
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp fresh dill chopped
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, and pressed garlic. This will be the dressing.
- Cut the tomato into large chunks. Then combine the cut tomatoes with the dressing and chopped dill.
- Season with salt and pepper according to your liking and mix it in gently. Serve chilled.
Nutrition
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abby says
how long can i refrigerate it for?
Dina says
I would only refrigerate for no more than 1 day. It does not taste the same. It is honestly best if eaten fresh.
Dorothy says
I’m just wondering if it would work as well with dried dill as well? If yes what’s your recommendation?
Dina says
Hi Dorothy, great question! I find that dried dill tastes very different than fresh dill so I would not recommend it in this salad recipe.
Carly says
Simple and so delicious, will be making again.
Dina says
Thank you Carly! Awesome to hear you found this tomato garlic salad so delicious and simple to make. It really makes me happy when people keep my recipes and repeat them in their homes. Thank you so much for your kind words! I hope you find more recipes to enjoy on my website. 🙂
Carol says
Looks delicious, will make soon.
Dina says
Thank you! I hope you love this tomato salad! Let me know how it goes 🙂
Sue says
This was delicious, I also added 2 packs sweet n low plus bacon bits. Yummy
simplyhomecooked says
Very happy to hear you loved this tomato salad! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your feedback! I really appreciate it! 🙂 I hope you find many more delicious recipes on my blog 🙂
Anna says
One of my all time favorites!