A Summer Naturally Sweet Recipe! Heirloom Tomato and Melon Salad with Goat Cheese and a Date–Balsamic Dressing.
After a long, bitterly cold winter, heirloom tomatoes — my favorite summer fruit — are finally appearing at farmers’ markets in colorful piles. This salad celebrates contrasting flavors and textures in a simple, elegant composition. Choosing a mélange of colors creates visual interest and makes each bite a slightly different, complimentary experience.
Summer salads are about showcasing nature’s bounty. I like pairing ripe cantaloupe with juicy watermelon and multicolored heirloom cherry tomatoes. For tang and richness, creamy goat cheese is perfect. I roll the cheese into small balls, slightly smaller than the melon balls, and coat them in fresh dill for aroma and a bright finish.
One of my little tricks is using dates for natural sweetness in the dressing. I start by sautéing a touch of garlic in extra virgin olive oil to mellow its sharpness, then add black pepper, sumac, balsamic vinegar and chopped dates. Let the mixture simmer gently so the flavors meld. After it cools slightly, I pulse it in a small food processor with a pinch of sea salt and drizzle in more extra virgin olive oil until the dressing is smooth and syrupy. Drizzle this dressing over the salad just before serving for a rich, well-rounded finish.
I’ll be sharing more heirloom tomato recipes over the coming months — these tomatoes really are the true taste of summer.
What does “heirloom” mean? Like a family keepsake, an heirloom seed or plant is one that has been passed down through generations. Some define heirlooms as varieties at least 100 years old, while others consider seeds preserved since around World War II, before hybrid varieties became widespread. Generally, an heirloom cultivar is one nurtured and selected by gardeners and families for many generations. It’s widely agreed that genetically modified organisms are not heirloom cultivars.
Amy Goldman, an expert on heirloom tomatoes, estimates there are over a thousand varieties. I toured her garden in Rhinebeck, NY, and it was a delight. When you visit your local farmers’ market, try a new heirloom variety — many growers encourage tasting so you can discover sweet, beefy, or low-acid profiles.
Enjoy this salad and the lingering days of summer,
Karen
