Balsamic Tomato Salad
A really simple but tasty salad, contrasting bitter leaves with sweet balsamic dressing.
Serving Per person
¼ red onion, thinly sliced
1 good ripe tomato, sliced
handful of bitter, peppery leaves such as rocket, watercress or spinach
olive oil
balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper
Soak the sliced onion in the balsamic vinegar for twenty minutes or so before serving, if possible. Then add plenty of olive oil, and season.
I probably use about 2 parts oil to vinegar for this dressing. Balsamic vinegar has a very strong, sweet-ish flavour, and is generally used sparingly. But I tend to use a lot for this one, as the sweetness is great with the onion and bitter leaves.
Scatter the leaves and tomato slices on a plate, and pour on plenty of dressing and onion.
Excellent with fresh crusty white bread.
There are a load of ways to vary it. Add some chopped black olives, maybe a handful of chick peas, perhaps some sliced red pepper. Or put some crushed garlic, ground chilli or herbs in the dressing.
Sets your taste buds tingling.