Heirloom Tomato Salad

Beautiful tomato salad with ombré heirloom tomatoes and breadcrumbs.

Updated Oct 16, 2025, Published Aug 19, 2025

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Heirloom tomato salad is a shopstopping dish that will shine at any dinner table.

A large oval platter of heirloom tomato salad with sliced red and yellow tomatoes, topped with chopped green onions, crumbled nuts or breadcrumbs, and swirls of creamy white and red sauce, is displayed on a gray surface with serving spoons nearby.

It combines juicy tomatoes in a variety of colors, finely chopped shallots, cherry tomatoes, crunchy breadcrumbs, and a sweet, tangy dressing.

I love using tomatoes in my salads, and I serve my tomato burrata salad and Greek salad all year long. However, when heirloom tomatoes are in season, I can’t wait to let them take the center stage with this beautiful summer salad.

The best thing about this salad is that it’s so easy to customize to your taste.

Recipe Tip

Try adding creamy feta, crunchy pomegranate arils, or serve it as an appetizer with crostini.

Heirloom Tomato Salad platter with sliced red, green, and yellow tomatoes, topped with onion rings, tomato garnishes, chopped green onions, and golden baked breadcrumbs.

Heirloom Salad Ingredients

Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details!

Heirloom tomatoes: Ideally, you want a mix of colors. I mixed purple, red, yellow, and green.
Grape tomatoes: For the tomato rosette details (you can omit).
Shallot: I use banana shallot, but any shallot or onion will do.
Breadcrumbs: I make my own by frying a piece of sourdough in a pan with butter until golden brown on both sides. Let it cool, then cube it up and pulse it in a mini food processor to add texture. You can also use store-bought croutons or panko.
Spring onions: Adds a vibrant, sweet onion flavor.
Maple syrup dressing: Mix olive oil (which ties all the flavors together), apple cider vinegar (which adds acidity), and maple syrup (for sweetness). Season well (sea salt and pepper not pictured).
Balsamic glaze: Top with the thick, sweet glaze as a final step to tie everything together (optional).

Assorted heirloom tomatoes, grape tomatoes, shallots, green onions, olive oil, vinegar, balsamic glaze, and breadcrumbs arranged on a gray surface.

How to Make Heirloom Tomato Salad

Arrange the tomatoes and season with sea salt and pepper. Top with chopped shallots and shallot rings.
Cut the cherry tomato roses and place them into the shallot rings so they don’t topple over.
Mix the ingredients for the dressing. Drizzle it over the salad.
Top with breadcrumbs, spring onion, and balsamic glaze.

A plate with thinly sliced red, orange, and yellow heirloom tomatoes arranged in overlapping rows.

Heirloom tomato salad featuring sliced red, yellow, and green tomatoes arranged on a platter, garnished with diced onions, black pepper, and small tomato and onion rosettes.

Possible Variations

Tomatoes: Swap heirloom tomatoes for beef tomatoes or plum tomatoes. Use raw or roasted tomatoes.
Shallot: Swap for pickled red onion for extra flavor and a beautiful color contrast.
Toppings: Add capers, pomegranate arils, roasted pine nuts, chopped pistachios, or roasted almonds.
Breadcrumbs: Try frying the breadcrumbs in fresh garlic, rosemary, and butter. Or skip the breadcrumbs and use large panzanella-style croutons for extra crunch.
Cheese: Add burrata cheese, feta, mozzarella, or bocconcini for an extra creamy taste.
Fresh herbs: Skip the spring onion and add chopped fresh basil, dill, mint, parsley, or chives.

FAQs

Can I make the salad ahead of time?

Yes, but wait to add the dressing and breadcrumbs until you are ready to serve.

How long will leftovers last?

1-2 days in the refrigerator. The breadcrumbs will get soggy, though, so you may want to add a fresh sprinkle of them.

How do I serve the tomato salad recipe?

Enjoy it as a light lunch or dinner with crusty bread, sourdough toast, or my easy focaccia, or serve it as a side dish with my cheddar chicken quiche, tortilla pockets, or grilled protein.