Name: Bloody-Mary Tomato Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds heirloom tomatoes, cored and cut into ½-inch-thick rounds; Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper; 2 tablespoons aquavit (optional); 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce; 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 0.5 teaspoon celery seeds; 0.5 teaspoon caraway seeds; 1 tablespoon freshly grated horseradish; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives (optional)

Prep Time:

15 mins

Cook Time:

0 mins

Total Time:

15 mins

Servings:

4

In this zesty tomato salad recipe, juicy heirloom tomatoes are sliced and drizzled with toppings that hit the notes of a Bloody Mary. To make the dressing, you'll whisk lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and an optional dash of aquavit—a spiced Norwegian liquor—with oil. After drizzling the dressing over the tomatoes, you'll sprinkle the salad with celery seeds, caraway seeds, and fresh horseradish to add texture and punchiness. A shower of fresh chives at the end brightens the whole thing up and adds even more color. Serve it for lunch, with dinner, or even as a creative brunch side that's sure to please.

Ingredients for Bloody-Mary Tomato Salad

Heirloom tomatoes: These colorful, uniquely shaped tomatoes are available during peak tomato season (typically late July through early September). Juicier and more fragrant than supermarket varieties, they're worth seeking out at farm stands and farmers' markets in late summer. Use a mix of sizes and colors for the most eye-catching look.

Aquavit: An optional splash of aquavit–a delicious, spiced Norwegian liquor—adds complexity and bite to the salad. If you can't locate it, you can swap in vodka instead or leave the alcohol out all together.

Worcestershire sauce: This aged mixture of vinegar, onions, anchovies, and aromatics adds umami depth to the dressing. To make this salad vegan, try our recipe for a homemade vegan replacement. You can also often find an anchovy-free option near the Worcestershire sauce at the grocery store.

Fresh horseradish: If you're able to locate horseradish root for this recipe, we highly recommend adding it. Brighter and zestier than prepared horseradish, it adds a distinct liveliness to the salad. If you only have access to prepared horseradish, use one and one-half teaspoons of it and stir it into the dressing rather than adding it directly to the tomatoes.

Caraway and celery seeds: We love the crunch and interest that caraway and celery seeds add to this salad in a nod to the rim of a Bloody Mary. It's best to use a combination of the two if you have them on hand, but you can also use one or the other in a pinch.

Ingredients

2 pounds heirloom tomatoes, cored and cut into ½-inch-thick rounds
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons aquavit (optional)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon celery seeds
½ teaspoon caraway seeds
1 tablespoon freshly grated horseradish
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives (optional)

Directions

Arrange tomatoes and season:

Arrange tomatoes on a platter in an overlapping single layer; season with salt and pepper.
Make dressing; drizzle over tomatoes:

In a bowl, whisk together aquavit, lemon juice, Worcestershire, and oil; drizzle evenly over tomatoes.
Sprinkle with remaining ingredients:

Sprinkle with celery and caraway seeds, horseradish, and chives; serve.