Tomatoes with Thai Basil Dressing

Although this may look like just a simple platter of sliced tomatoes with a dressing, it’s so much more than that. A delicious Thai Basil dressing is made in a quick few minutes and drizzled over plump tomatoes, leaving you with the perfect appetizer or side dish. It’s a no-cook, low-carb and gluten-free recipe that requires only 10 minutes and 5 ingredients.

Why We Love This Recipe For Tomatoes with Thai Basil Dressing

Summer is the time we want to maximize our chillaxin’ time and minimize our stress and efforts in the kitchen. So I am with you–I want these quick and easy recipes too, hence this Thai Tomato Salad with Thai Basil Vinaigrette.

Luckily for us, tomatoes and so many other great fruits and vegetables are best during summertime, which means you barely have to do anything to them. Usually, some quality extra-virgin olive oil, flakey kosher salt, and freshly ground pepper is enough (whether you eat them raw or cooked).

Seriously, my haricot verts from my garden are so sweet and delicious. Last night for dinner, all I did was steam them for a couple of minutes. Although I do love olive oil, salt and pepper, I served them with our dinner completely plain. I just didn’t think they needed anything! That my friends, is the magic of seasonality.

The ingredient notes section for this Tomato Salad with Thai Dressing is short, simply because there are only 5 ingredients: the dressing is fine with regular Italian Sweet basil. But man-oh-man, the Thai basil makes this so special tasting. It has a little coconuty thing going on that you’ll love! And the splash of fish sauce will explode in your mouth. Just sayin’ that since I know you all are looking at me like, really? Fish sauce? Trust. Me. It. Is. GOOD!

It’s the perfect side dish to serve during the summer alongside simply grilled Chuck Eye Steaks (for example). Turn on the grill, whip-together an easy side dish like this tomato salad with Thai basil dressing and you’re done!

Key Ingredients For This Recipe

Thai basil leaves

If you’ve never purchased Thai basil before, you can usually find it in well-stocked grocery stores or Asian or other international markets. Unlike Italian basil (which you’re probably more familiar with), Thai basil has a slightly spicy and licorice-like flavor. If you can’t find Thai basil, you could use regular basil instead but it won’t pack the same flavor-punch. If you do use regular basil, add some chopped cilantro as well.

Thai fish sauce

Thai fish sauce is a very common ingredient in Thai cooking. It’s amber in color and has a very a salty, briny and fishy flavor. Since it’s fairly pungent, start with less when cooking with it for the first time to discover if you like the taste or not. Other than this recipe, Thai fish sauce is perfect for stir-fries, curries, and even non-Asian dishes. If you can’t find Thai fish sauce you can experiment with soy sauce, coconut aminos or oyster sauce.

Additional Ingredients

• 2 tablespooons best quality extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 1/2 pound tomatoes

Instructions For These Thai Tomatoes

• Puree ½ cup basil, olive oil, rice vinegar and fish sauce in a food processor, mini prep or blender.
• Slice tomatoes and arrange on a medium platter.
• Drizzle dressing over the tomatoes and garnish with basil leaves if desired.

FAQs and Expert Tips

Tomato and Thai Recipes You’ll Love

• Here is an easy-going recipe for a Tomato and Anchovy Salad with basil, olives and avocado. It’s so delicious!
• This luscious Tomato and Green Bean Salad with Goat Cheese is the perfect summertime side dish!
• Here is an easy and incredibly tasty recipe for Yellow and Red Tomato Pico de Gallo or fresh salsa. It is low carb, vegan, gluten-free.
• This Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Coconut Soup is loosely based on the classic Thai soup- Tom Kha Gai. You’ll love it.
• This vegan Thai pumpkin Soup Recipe comes together in 15 minutes—really! 
• If you’re cooking steak soon you must try my Thai Coconut Grilled Lime Skirt Steak.
• One of my favorites are these Thai-style fish cakes with herbal salad.
• Here’s a quick guide to peeling and seeding tomatoes.