5-Minute Balsamic Thyme Tomato Salad is a light, fresh, simple salad side dish perfect for picnics and hot summer nights! | gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, free of all other top 8 most common allergens

It’s April, which basically means it’s almost summertime here in Florida! 😉 I know, I know – with the horrible winter so many of my Northern friends have been having (literally snowing today in some places!) I feel bad talking about summertime, but just think of this 5-Minute Balsamic Thyme Tomato Salad recipe as one you can look forward to when the snow stops and you can celebrate better weather with a fun picnic outside!

And that’s exactly what I had in mind when I created this 5-Minute Balsamic Thyme Tomato Salad: picnics at the beach or dinner spent outside on light summer nights. It’s a simple side dish salad that’s light and refreshing, but also great if you are making ahead or outside at a barbecue because there are no greens that will easily wilt. That is, of course, unless you choose to add greens, and if you do, I’d add right before serving.

I happen to adore fresh thyme and think the flavor pairs really well with the tomatoes and balsamic vinegar in this salad. That said, feel free to change out the herbs for equal amounts of fresh rosemary, basil, parsley, oregano, or whatever you prefer.

I also love using cherry or grape tomatoes in this recipe. You still have all the amazing nutrients found in tomatoes, but they’re a little less juicy than larger tomatoes, so they hold up well when halved in this salad. If you have a surplus of larger tomatoes on hand or that’s all you can find, you can totally chop larger tomatoes into bite-sized pieces, but if they’re extra juicy (like when juice and seeds get all over your cutting board) don’t add the extra juices and seeds into the salad with the other ingredients.

Finally, if you wish to add some greens, feel free! I really enjoyed the flavors in this Balsamic Thyme Tomato Salad paired with the peppery freshness of some arugula, but do what works for you! Looking for some other summery salad side dish recipe inspiration? Try these:

If you give this 5-Minute Balsamic Thyme Tomato Salad a try, be sure to share what you think! Feel free to leave a comment or share on the NTF Facebook page or on Instagram (tag @nutritiontofit and #nutritiontofit). Live well!

5-Minute Balsamic Thyme Tomato Salad

5-Minute Balsamic Thyme Tomato Salad is a light, fresh, simple salad side dish perfect for picnics and the summer.

free from: gluten, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, eggs

5 from 5 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Italian, Mediterranean

Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 5

Servings: servings

Calories: 48kcal

Author: Lindsey Janeiro, RDN, CLT

Ingredients

2 cups grape tomatoes halved
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
½ tsp fresh thyme leaves about 3-4 sprigs of thyme
1 pinch sea salt
1 pinch black pepper
2 cups arugula optional

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and gently toss.
Can be served immediately, or made in advance and kept in a closed, airtight glass container up to 3-4 days.

Notes

I prefer cherry and/ or grape tomatoes in this recipe simply sliced in half or quartered, depending on their size. If using larger tomatoes, you may want to remove any excess liquid and seeds prior to tossing with remaining ingredients.