Easy Summer Tomato And Ricotta Salad

This ricotta and tomato salad was inspired by a trip to a local restaurant here in Austin which is now closed but I loved their fresh food and farm to table ethos.

I loved ordering this salad and since I can't get it there anymore, I decided to re-create it at home.

This salad with ricotta cheese and tomatoes is best made when tomatoes are ripe and in season but I do make it all throughout the year. I also love this dish because if you are like me and use ricotta in recipes, I never seem to use up all of that ricotta and always have some leftover.

This no-cook, assembly only meal is the key to summer dining on those hot days.

What You Will Need

• Fresh tomatoes (you can use large tomatoes and quarter them or cherry tomatoes cut in half).
• Fresh whole milk ricotta. I strongly suggest a good quality whole milk ricotta because it is sweet and creamy and really makes this dish!
• Roasted and salted pistachios.
• Sunflower seeds.
• Extra virgin olive oil.
• Lemon.
• Honey
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Good crusty garlic bread (optional but highly recommended.)

How To Make This Summer Tomato And Ricotta Salad

• Slice tomatoes: If you are using large tomatoes, slice those into ½ inch thick slices. For cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, you want to slice those in half.
• Make the dressing: In a small bowl, mix the olive oil and honey along with the salt and pepper.
• Grill up bread: If you want to serve this with crusty bread, my garlic crostini is what I suggest!
• Assemble: Add the ricotta to a medium plate then top with the tomatoes, pistachios and sunflower seeds. Drizzle the dressing over the top.
• Serve on its own or with crusty garlic bread!

Ways To Enjoy This Summer Salad

• Serve With Garlic Bread: My family really loves spreading this tomato and ricotta salad over crusty bread. There is no wrong way to enjoy this dish!
• Eat it on it's own! I can scoop this up with a spoon and eat it as is. It is great that way.
• As a side dish: If you are grilling up chicken or pork, this makes an excellent addition to it.
• Sweeten it up! If you would like to add a sweet twist to this ricotta salad, you can drizzle a simple balsamic reduction over the top when serving.
• Serve it over pasta for a delicious summer meal.

This tomato and ricotta salad makes a great light meal on hot days or a light meal any time of year when you are looking for something fresh to eat.

Storing

If you have any leftover, you can simply cover the plate with the ricotta with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for up to 3 days.