Earlier in the week, I posted my Cherry Tomato Summer Salad, an easy, refreshing dish that highlights that flavors of this perfect summer fruit.  Since you know my love for a good tomato borders on the pornographic (remember my effusions on the first tomatoes from my own garden?), I thought I'd offer you another tomato salad recipe, this one just as simple and delicious as the last. 

It makes a perfect light meal or a great side dish for an Italian dinner.  I love making this salad for Sunday pasta night with my family!  It has a big wow factor, both in taste and presentation, but takes only five minutes to prepare.  Unlike traditional tomato and mozzarella salads, I go easy on the cheese, using it more as an accent to the tomatoes rather than as a competing flavor.  Feel free to play with the types of tomatoes you use too.  I used more yellow pear, chocolate rose, and sun gold cherry tomatoes here, but the recipe can easily be tweaked to accommodate what you have on hand.

Ingredients:

4 cups cherry tomatoes

8oz small mozzarella balls (one container)

1/2 cup basil

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons white wine vinegar

salt & pepper to taste

Place washed cherry tomatoes in salad bowl.  Slice mozzarella balls (roughly the size of your cherry tomatoes) in half and add to your bowl.  Shred basil and add to salad, then stir until ingredients are combined.  Drizzle olive oil and vinegar over ingredients and stir until thoroughly mixed.  Add salt and pepper to taste and stir.  Serves 4 as a light meal or 6 as a side dish.  Enjoy!