Equipment
Ingredients
Tomatoes
- 800 g heirloom tomatoes, room temperature, assorted colors, cored and sliced into wedges
- 200 g cherry tomatoes, room temperature, stemmed and halved
- 4 g fine sea salt, dry
Sesame Vinaigrette
- 30 ml toasted sesame oil, dark toasted
- 15 ml neutral vegetable oil, liquid
- 25 ml soy sauce, liquid, regular brewed
- 30 ml rice vinegar, unseasoned
- 6 g granulated sugar, dry
- 5 g fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
- 1 garlic, peeled and grated to a paste
Garnish
- 2 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced on a bias
- 10 g toasted white sesame seeds, toasted
- 5 g toasted black sesame seeds, toasted
- 10 g fresh cilantro leaves, fresh leaves and tender stems, gently washed and dried
Nutrition (per serving)
Nutrition is estimated per serving. Nutrients without complete source data are omitted.
Full nutrition
- Calories
- 178 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbohydrates
- 14 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Fiber
- 4 g
- Sodium
- 788 mg
- Saturated Fat
- 2 g
- Potassium
- 92 mg
- Calcium
- 49 mg
- Iron
- 0.8 mg
- Magnesium
- 22 mg
- Phosphorus
- 42 mg
- Zinc
- 0.4 mg
- Vitamin A
- 12 mcg
- Vitamin C
- 2 mg
- Water
- 15 g
Sources: Aggregated Public Data, USDA FoodData Central
Method
Place heirloom tomatoes on the cutting board and slice into 12 mm wedges and rounds using a sharp chef's knife.
Halve the cherry tomatoes lengthwise on the cutting board using the chef's knife.
Season the sliced heirloom and cherry tomatoes with 3g of fine sea salt and allow them to rest at room temperature (20°C to 22°C / 68°F to 72°F) for 10 minutes to draw out initial juices.
Combine soy sauce, rice vinegar, granulated sugar, grated ginger, grated garlic, and remaining 1g of fine sea salt in the small mixing bowl, whisking with the small whisk until the sugar crystals fully dissolve.
Stream the toasted sesame oil and neutral vegetable oil steadily into the vinegar mixture while whisking continuously with the small whisk until a cohesive, lightly emulsified vinaigrette forms.
Arrange the salted heirloom tomato slices and halved cherry tomatoes across the large shallow serving platter in an overlapping, single-layer mosaic.
Whisk the sesame vinaigrette briefly to re-suspend any settled ingredients, then spoon the dressing evenly across the plated tomatoes.
Scatter the sliced scallions, toasted white sesame seeds, toasted black sesame seeds, and fresh cilantro leaves over the dressed tomatoes on the large shallow serving platter, then serve immediately.
Chef's Notes
- Never refrigerate peak-season heirloom tomatoes prior to cutting; temperatures below 12°C permanently inhibit enzyme pathways responsible for tomato sweetness and aromatic flavor volatiles.
- Using a blend of two-thirds toasted sesame oil and one-third neutral oil provides rich toasted flavor while keeping the dressing light enough to let delicate heirloom fruitiness shine through.
- Opt for a wide, shallow platter instead of a deep salad bowl; this keeps the delicate tomato flesh from bruising under its own weight and guarantees even vinaigrette coverage on every bite.
- For make-ahead picnic or party preparation, whisk the vinaigrette and slice the garnishes up to 24 hours in advance, then slice and assemble the fresh tomatoes right before eating.
Storage
Refrigerator: 2 days — Store in an airtight container promptly. Discard or repurpose excess shed tomato water, as cut tomatoes will soften over time.
Reheating: Serve chilled or at room temperature; do not reheat.
Troubleshooting
Salad becomes overly watery and the dressing tastes weak
Cause: The salad was dressed too far in advance, causing the salted tomatoes to release excess liquid into the vinaigrette
Fix: Tilt the platter slightly and spoon off excess diluted liquid from the rim, then drizzle 10ml fresh toasted sesame oil and 5ml soy sauce over the top to revive flavors
Prevention: Dress the tomatoes within 10 minutes of serving rather than letting them sit dressed in the refrigerator
Vinaigrette tastes bitter and aggressively sharp
Cause: Old, scorched, or lower-grade toasted sesame oil was used, or the raw garlic was too pungent
Fix: Whisk in an additional 5ml neutral vegetable oil and 2g granulated sugar to balance bitterness
Prevention: Taste your toasted sesame oil prior to whisking to verify freshness, and ensure garlic is grated finely into a mild paste
Cultural Context
This recipe blends the American summer picnic classic of sliced farm-stand heirloom tomatoes with East Asian flavor foundations built on toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, and fresh ginger. The combination takes inspiration from Japanese wafu salads and chilled Chinese home-style sliced tomato dishes, where savory umami complements natural plant sugars. The resulting dish has earned widespread popularity on warm-weather holiday tables as an effortless, vibrant centerpiece.
