Amelia's Delicious Tomato and Red Onion Basil Salad

I can hardly  believe that July 4th has come and gone. Finally, after many months of self-quarantine due to COVID19, I was able to visit friends.   With the compliance  of social distancing  at a good friend's home, I was able to spend July 4th as the grill master for the day. We spent the whole time outside in the backyard.    It was fun.   Along with barbecuing hamburgers, hot dogs, we had chicken and deliciously seasoned steaks.   My contribution to the meal was  Tomato Red Onion and Fresh Parsley and Basil.  This festive salad was a staples in my home during the years I raising my children.   It gave me great pleasure to share this wonderful recipe, fresh clean ingredients along with great taste.

I bet you have always wondered…. Where did tomatoes originally come from?

The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a fruit from the nightshade family.  Usually red when mature, tomatoes can also come in a variety of colors, including yellow, orange, green, and purple. Native to South America tomatoes are plants that have managed to spread all across the world becoming one of the best known food ingredients.  Additionally, one of the most beloved vegetables (even though technically it's classified as a fruit). Tomatoes arrived on the European scene around 1493, during the time of Christopher Columbus.  As early as 1540, tomatoes were produced in Spanish fields regularly and became a common food in the early 17th century.   Although we might assume that tomatoes were the star vegetable of Italy,they were  introduced in 1548.   It was not until the late 17th and early 18th century that tomatoes mainstreamed into European food culture. The rest is history!

Did you know?

Tomatoes are the major dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been linked to many health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. They are also a great source of vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K.                                                                 

Vitamin C.... This vitamin is an essential nutrient and antioxidant. One medium-sized tomato can provide about 28% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI).

Potassium... An essential mineral, Potassium  is beneficial for blood pressure control and heart disease prevention. 

Vitamin K1.... Also known as phylloquinone, vitamin K is important for blood clotting and bone health

Folate (vitamin B9)... One of the B vitamins, folate is important for normal tissue growth and cell function.

Lycopene... is the most abundant carotenoid in ripened tomatoes.It's found in the highest concentrations in the skin.   The redder the tomato, the more lycopene it has.Tomato products  such as ketchup, , tomato paste,tomato juice and tomato sauces. They  are the richest dietary sources of lycopene in the Western diet, providing over 80% of dietary lycopene in the United States.

 

 

 Tomato and Red Onion Basil Salad

  This  recipe goes well as a side dish with  meat, fish chicken or pork.  Add fresh mozzarella or eat it as a stand alone dish.    Tastes great and extremely healthy.

Enjoy!!!!!

Ingredients                                                                                                    

  

 8 ripe organic tomatoes (organic if you can)      

1 of a medium red onion  

 

1 bunch of fresh basil (organic if you can)     

                                                         

1 bunch fresh  parsley

½  cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil  

¾ cup of Red Wine Vinegar        

Salt and Pepper to taste 

Cooking Directions

Cut the Tomatoes of your choice in the 8th's.

 (I like Plum Roma Tomatoes. They are a decent size, taste great and last a long time marinating in the salad)

Red Onion slice thin.

Gather the Fresh basil in a tight bunch and slice thin.

Gather the fresh parsley in a tight bunch and slice thin.

Place all fresh ingredients in a medium size bowl.

Dressing

In a separate bowl add ½ cup of olive oil, add ¾ cup of wine vinegar, salt and pepper to taste. Mix together and then add to the tomato mixture.  

Taste and add additional salt and pepper to taste if needed. Chill in the refrigerator and serve cold.