A Simple Summer Tomato Salad

March 12, 2026

Some dishes rely on technique. Others rely on ingredients. This tomato salad belongs firmly in the second category. When tomatoes are at their peak, very little needs to be added.

The key is to start with tomatoes that are fragrant and slightly soft to the touch. Their sweetness will carry the dish. A good olive oil and a pinch of salt are enough to bring everything together.

This is the kind of recipe that works just as well for a quiet lunch as it does for a table shared with friends on a warm evening.

Ingredients

FOR THE RICE PUDDING

700ml full-fat milk
500ml double cream
100g caster sugar
6 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
I vanilla pod, split in half
130g risotto or sushi rice

FOR THE RHUBARB

500g rhubarb (about 5-6 stalks)
50g caster or soft brown sugar
1 orange
4cm piece of ginger, peeled

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 160°C/fan oven 140°C/mark 3. To make the rice pudding, put the milk, cream, sugar and cardamom in a large saucepan. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla pod and add to the milk, along with the pod. Bring to the boil then remove from the heat.

Step 2

Choose a baking dish that is large enough to fit all the milk and cream with a bit of extra room, so that it does not slosh over the sides when you put it in the oven. Scatter the rice over the bottom of the dish and carefully ladle the milk mixture in, so the rice remains evenly distributed.

Step 3

Bake in the oven for 1 hour 20 minutes, then check the skin is not getting too brown. If it is, turn down the oven to 140°C/fan oven 120°C/mark I for the final 30 minutes of cooking.

Step 4

Top and tail the rhubarb stalks and cut into finger-length batons. Lay them in a single layer in a baking tray and sprinkle with the caster or soft brown sugar.

Once the salad is assembled, it helps to let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This gives the juices time to mingle with the olive oil and seasoning.

Serve it with a piece of good bread that can soak up the dressing at the bottom of the bowl. The simplicity of the dish is exactly what makes it memorable.

Caption

This salad also adapts easily. A few slices of fresh mozzarella can make it more substantial. A sprinkle of toasted seeds adds texture. The base remains the same. Good ingredients treated with care.