heirloom tomato & plum salad + pistachio vinaigrette

despite this RIDICULOUS heat we have been having, i love summer. summer parties, summer weather and of course, summer food. let's get real. summer produce CRUSHES all other seasons.

yeah, yeah, i love me some citrus and all. but give me that watermelon, those big fat tomatoes and buckets of stone fruits over anything. 

last saturday, we celebrated my youngest brother's birthday at a classic santa monica restaurant, michael's. my dad ordered this insane duck dish served with gorgeous plums and crisp mint that inspired this summer salad. it's perfect to wow for dinner or a big party and you don't have to cook a damn thing. NO ONE wants to stand next to the oven, stove or grill when it's this freaking hot out. 

stay cool and enjoy friends!

heirloom tomato & plum salad + pistachio vinaigrette

serves: 2 dinner servings or 4 side servings

prep time: 10 minutes

active time: 5 minutes

total time: 15 minutes

ingredients: 3 medium heirloom tomatoes (about 3 cups), chopped. 3 plums, roughly chopped. 1 celery rib, sliced thin. 8 mint leaves, finely chopped or chiffonade. .25 cup pistachios, finely chopped. .25 cup olive oil. 3 tbs apple cider vinegar. 1 tsp honey. 1 tsp whole grain mustard. 1 garlic clove minced. 1 tsp kosher salt. .25 tsp pepper.

IMG_5376.JPG

start by combining the olive oil, vinegar, honey, mustard, garlic, half the salt and all the pepper in a medium bowl. add in half the pistachio and whisk the mixture together. set it aside. 

IMG_5377.JPG

on a platter or in a bowl, combine the tomato, plum and celery. 

IMG_5374.JPG

sprinkle the salad mixture with the mint leaves.

IMG_5375.JPG

drizzle the pistachio vinaigrette over the salad. top with the remaining pistachios.

IMG_5378.JPG

serve and enjoy. 

IMG_5380.JPG

xo, a

heirloom tomato & plum salad + pistachio vinaigrette 

serves: 2 dinner servings or 4 side servings

prep time: 10 minutes

active time: 5 minutes

total time: 15 minutes

ingredients: 3 medium heirloom tomatoes (about 3 cups), chopped. 3 plums, roughly chopped. 1 celery rib, sliced thin. 8 mint leaves, finely chopped or chiffonade. .25 cup pistachios, finely chopped. .25 cup olive oil. 3 tbs apple cider vinegar. 1 tsp honey. 1 tsp whole grain mustard. 1 garlic clove minced. 1 tsp kosher salt. .25 tsp pepper.

start by combining the olive oil, vinegar, honey, mustard, garlic, half the salt and all the pepper in a medium bowl. add in half the pistachio and whisk the mixture together. set it aside. on a platter or in a bowl, combine the tomato, plum and celery. sprinkle the salad mixture with the mint leaves. drizzle the pistachio vinaigrette over the salad. top with the remaining pistachios. serve and enjoy.