We might be wilting a little in this intense summer heat but with the intense summer heat comes the ultimate, summer-seasonal-food reward – the enormous, Turkish tomato. We’ve discussed our love of this seasonal tomato in the past and yesterday, the stalls of Çalış market were once again piled high with the beauties.
Some stall holders were displaying them cut through the middle to tempt buyers with their juicy redness. We fall for it every time and just had to buy some. You don’t get many of these to the kilo – four tomatoes weighed 2 kilos. But what to do with them…
Well, as we said, we’re wilting! Although a few rumbles of thunder and spots of rain gave us all a little breather yesterday evening, humidity has engulfed Fethiye and with the humidity comes the desire to eat light foods…a perfect tomato salad made from just one of our tomatoes.
A Recipe For Summer Tomato Salad
This salad has made a cameo appearance on this blog before because we served it with the Kars gravyer cheese someone very kindly posted to us. It’s in the photos but we never posted the recipe.
It’s not a Turkish recipe but we are using the seasonal foods of Turkey and the salad is just the perfect way to celebrate these sweet, juicy tomatoes. We’re eating simple and light at the moment and that’s exactly what this salad is.
- Roughly chop your summer tomato and add to a bowl with a good pinch of salt
- Add a sprinkling of oregano
- Chop or crush a clove of garlic and a fresh green chilli (chillies are also in season right now) and add those to the bowl
- Now add around 3 tablespoons of vinegar and a good glug of olive oil
- Mix it all up and add fresh, torn basil leaves or fresh mint leaves (we’re going all out for mint at the moment as our neighbour’s garden is overrun with it – both basil and mint are in season)
And that’s it. Perfectly simple and so tasty. It’s especially good served with potato and onion frittata – cold of course.
This was yesterday’s lunch. Tomato salad served with the leftovers of last night’s evening meal. But do you know what the best thing about this salad is…?
You buy yourself a fresh, Turkish, crusty loaf from the bakery. You munch your way through all the tomatoes and when they’re all gone, take a chunk of the bread. Don’t slice it. Tear it.
And then you mop up all the remaining juices with the bread and eat it. Two meals in one! Be careful to share it nicely, otherwise it can lead to disagreements over who has mopped up more than their fair share. You’ve been warned.
Nothing tastes as good as this when the temperatures are high. I have to have some beyaz peynir with it.
@ BacktoBodrum: Yes, we definitely agree on that one. Beyaz peynir with tomatoes is just perfect. Guess you’re all feeling the heat in Bodrum, too?
1/2-kilo tomato! That’s incredible. Are they grown in special conditions? The tomato salad looks yummy.
@ Sophie: They’re grown in special conditions through the winter months, in polytunnels and they’re not half as good, then. These are the summer ones – cheap and bountiful. 🙂
WOW! I haven’t seen these large of tomatoes yet here in Istanbul. We’ve also been making lighter meals and taking advantage of the delicious summer veggies. Love salads and salsa. 🙂
British tomatoes just aren’t the same – a bit emaciated!
@ Joy: Do you get the really big tomatoes in Istanbul? We’re loving the lighter meals. Our fridge is packed with meze that we’ve made up just for grazing on. 🙂
@ Jack Scott: I’m actually really feeling for you at the moment. It’s the texture too. Just not right somehow. 🙂
thanks for this recipe! i am just about to be harvesting lots of tomatoes and i am stock piling ways to use them. i can’t get turkish bread here so i will have to make my own.
@ Jaz: I’m sure you’ll enjoy your own bread just as much. Good luck with your tomato harvesting. Not sure we’d know how to get rid of so many! 🙂
what yummy meaty tomatoes!! dunking your bread to the juices must be heavenly, enjoy!
@ Ozlem’s Turkish Table: The tomatoes in Fethiye are just coming into their prime and will be around throughout the summer. Looking forward to lots more dunking! 🙂
What gorgeous tomatoes!! Wow. And that bread…I could eat this all summer long.
That looks so delicious! Is it bad that I miss Turkish bread? Looks like its time to plan my next trip back!
@ Belinda: Fabulous aren’t they? The Turkish bread helps. Perfect for dipping. 🙂
@ shtina25: Judging by some of your blog posts that I read about your time in Turkey, I suspect you will be back some day. 🙂
big and beautiful – just love them rubbed on bread/toast with a drizzle of olive oil.
@ Alan: They’re just the best aren’t they? We’ve had some with toast today – and of course, the all important olive oil. 🙂
Wow, that’s huge!
And it’s so juicy. 🙂
The tomato salad looks yummy.
@ London Caller: Fab tomatoes aren’t they? Yes, the salad is yummy. 🙂
I love that kind of simple tomato salad with really good tomatoes. Here in Moldova I have a source of heirloom tomatoes grown by an American, and I’ll have some next week. Can’t wait!
@ Miss Footloose: Tomato salad is perfect for summer, isn’t it. Glad to hear you’ll be enjoying the home grown tomato harvest of your American friend. Roll on next week. 🙂
I never knew tomatoes actually had a taste until I went to Turkey. In the Uk they are tasteless.
@ Anne Mackle: Same here. We were amazed at the tomatoes on our first ever trip to Fethiye and now we love them. Not a nice texture in the UK, either.